Antlions

Definition

A family of neuropteran insects (Myrmeleontidae, order Neuroptera) comprising approximately 2,000 species, renowned for the specialized predatory behavior of their larvae. Larvae excavate conical pit traps in sandy or loose soil to capture small arthropod prey, primarily ants; this fossorial habit has earned them the vernacular name "doodlebugs" in North America. Adults are aerial, crepuscular or nocturnal predators with elongated bodies and large, transparent, heavily veined wings, superficially resembling damselflies or dragonflies but distinguished by their clubbed or thickened antennae. The adult stage is comparatively ephemeral, often persisting only days to weeks, whereas larvae may live one to three years.

Etymology

From the larva's habit of preying on ants; "doodlebug" derives from the meandering, scribble-like trails larvae leave on the sand surface while searching for trap sites.

Example

The pit-digging behavior of Myrmeleon formicarius larvae exemplifies an energy-efficient ambush strategy: the larva buries itself at the bottom of a steep-walled cone, flicking sand to dislodge prey that lose traction on the unstable slope.

Synonyms

• doodlebugs (larval stage, North American vernacular)
• antlion lacewings (adult stage)

Related Terms

• Neuroptera
• Lacewings
• Myrmeleontidae
• pit trap (ambush predation)
• Fossorial
• Crepuscular
• complete metamorphosis

Usage Notes

Refers to the family Myrmeleontidae, not a single species. The vernacular "doodlebug" applies specifically to larvae and is regionally restricted to North America. Adults are frequently misidentified as odonates; correct identification relies on antennae structure (clubbed in antlions, thread-like in damselflies, very short in dragonflies) and wing venation patterns. The ecological contrast between long-lived, sedentary larvae and short-lived, vagile adults is a notable life-history feature within the family.