Antlion Larva (Doodlebug)
Scientific Name: Myrmeleontidae (family level, various species like Myrmeleon immaculatus)
Order & Family: Neuroptera; Myrmeleontidae
Size: Typically 1 to 2 centimeters long (distinctive body shape is often obscured by dirt)
Natural Habitat
Sandy soil, loose dust, or protected earth often found under structures, ledges, or in open sandy areas where they can build conical pits.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous predator; primarily feeds on ants and other small ground-dwelling insects that fall into its pit.
Behavior Patterns
Unlike the adults (which look like dragonflies), larvae dig conical pits in loose sand and bury themselves at the bottom with only their jaws exposed. They wait for prey to slide down the loose walls, often flicking sand at escaping insects to knock them back down. They walk backward, leaving winding trails, hence the nickname 'doodlebug'.
Risks & Benefits
Generally harmless to humans; they possess large jaws but are too small to inflict a painful bite on a person. They are beneficial to the ecosystem as they help control populations of ants and other small arthropods.
Identified on: 2/8/2026