Community identification
Likely antlion larva (doodlebug)
Myrmeleontidae, likely an unidentified Myrmeleon species
- Order & Family
- Neuroptera; family Myrmeleontidae
- Size
- Usually 5–15 mm long as a larva, though some species reach about 25 mm.
Natural Habitat
Loose, dry, sandy soil sheltered beneath vegetation, rocks, or overhangs; common in warm, sparsely vegetated areas.
Diet & Feeding
The larva ambushes ants and other small arthropods, often from a conical sand pit, then sucks out their body fluids.
Behavior Patterns
Larvae burrow backward and may construct pit traps; adults are delicate, four-winged insects resembling damselflies and are mostly nocturnal. The larval stage may last months to years before pupation.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to people and pets. Beneficial predators that help regulate ants and other small ground-dwelling insects.