Community identification
Antlion (Larva)
Myrmeleontidae (Family)
- Order & Family
- Order Neuroptera, Family Myrmeleontidae
- Size
- 1 cm to 3 cm (0.4 to 1.2 inches) in length.
Natural Habitat
Found globally, typically in sandy areas, forest floors, or sheltered loose soil under ledges.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous; feeds primarily on ants and other small ground-dwelling insects.
Behavior Patterns
Larvae, often called 'doodlebugs,' dig funnel-shaped pits in loose sand and hide at the bottom to ambush prey. They have large, hollow mandibles for injecting venom and digestive enzymes into their prey.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans; beneficial to the ecosystem as they help control populations of ants and other small garden pests.