Myrmeleontidae

Antlions belong to the Family Myrmeleontidae within the Order Neuroptera. Adult antlions look a little like dragonflies but their wing pattern is different. They also have longer, clubbed antennae and are feeble fliers.

Antlion larvae live in the soil and construct pits to snare prey. They are popular with children in the US because of their 'fun' lifestyle of trapping any insects that come near their pit. They commonly prey on ants as these stumble in to the pit and fall to the bottom where they are grabbed by the antlion larvae using its large jaws.

Antlions are sometimes called doodlebugs in the US, because of the 'doodles' made in sand by their larvae.

A photograph of an antlion larva (Euroleon nostras) illustrating the large jaws used to grasp prey.
Photograph by Fritz Geller-Grimm licensed under Creative Commons.

A photograph of a pit created by an antlion larva. The larva lives in a hole at the bottom and feeds on prey that falls into the pit.
Photograph by Fritz Geller-Grimm licensed under Creative Commons.

Other names for (or types of) Myrmeleontidae include:

• Antlion
• Doodlebug

Related terms

• Formicidae
• Neuroptera
• Predator

Related pages on this web site

• Lacewings, Antlions & Mantidflies - Order Neuroptera

See other words beginning with M