Learn about: Antlions!

Artwork by Joshua Venturo

The adult antlion looks like a damselfly, and grows to about 1 ¾ (45 mm.) inches. As an adult, it eats nectar and pollen, but it is named after the carnivorous habits of the larvae. Once the larva hatches, it digs a small pit, about 1 inch across, and waits for an ant or other small insect to fall down the sloping sides. Then, it grabs the insect with its jaws and pulls it under the sand.

Next time you are out in a sandy place, look for small pits in the sand. Sometimes the antlion will be flicking sand out of the bottom of the pit; sometimes its jaws will be sticking out. Find an ant and drop it in. Usually, the antlion will grab it and start dragging it under.

We had fun feeding antlions near the coast of Texas. We even dug one up to look at it more closely.

When you start watching these amazing little creatures, you can’t help but think about how awesome God is!

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Information from: Milne, Lorus, Margery Milne, and Susan Rayfield. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1980.