Myrmeleon

Linnaeus, 1767

antlion, doodlebug

Species Guides

Myrmeleon is a of antlions in the Myrmeleontidae, distinguished by larvae that construct conical pitfall traps in sandy substrates. The larvae, commonly called doodlebugs, bury themselves at the bottom of these pits and use specialized to capture prey that falls in. are delicate, lacy-winged insects resembling but with short, clubbed . The genus is notable for being one of few genera in North America that exhibits pit-building , and it has been documented across multiple continents including North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Myrmeleon texanus by (c) Eric Knight, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Eric Knight. Used under a CC-BY license.

Myrmeleon exitialis imported from iNaturalist photo 318738245 on 20 March 2024 by (c) Z, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Common Antlion Myrmeleon immaculatus female by Jacy Lucier. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Myrmeleon: //mɪrˈmiːliːɒn//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

are distinguished from and by their short, clubbed (Odonata have long, thread-like or bristle-like antennae). From other neuropteran , they are distinguished by wing venation and body form. Larvae are identified by their pit-building in North America—only Myrmeleon larvae construct conical pits among Nearctic antlions. Larvae of different Myrmeleon can be distinguished by capsule markings, mandibular length and tooth arrangement, bristle patterns, and the of labial palpi and antennae. The arrangement of digging bristles on the body is also diagnostic: typically eight bristles in the row and four in the row.

Images

Appearance

Larvae are robust, wrinkled, and covered with spines and bristles, with a pair of long, sickle-shaped bearing grooves for channeling fluids. They move only backwards and are capable of rapid backward shuffling to bury themselves. Myrmeleon have slender bodies with large, transparent, heavily veined wings that often bear dark spots or speckles for camouflage. They possess short, thick, clubbed that distinguish them from superficially similar Odonata. Many have patterned wings with alternating light and dark markings.

Habitat

Larvae occur in dry, sandy, or fine powdery soils, often in sheltered microhabitats such as beneath rock overhangs, at the base of trees, under bridges, or in the dirt floors of old barns and sheds. They prefer open, sparsely vegetated areas with direct sunlight exposure. In the Cerrado biome of Brazil, larvae have been observed to forage year-round in protected microhabitats but cease activity during the rainy season in exposed areas. Some inhabit coastal zones. The has been recorded in shrubland and rocky at elevations above 1800 meters in Yemen.

Distribution

distribution spanning North America (including the southwestern U.S. and Mexico), South America, Africa (including southern Africa and Mozambique), Asia (including China, Taiwan, and the Arabian Peninsula), and Europe (including Germany and Russia). Specific documented locations include: Maputo National Park, Mozambique; Yunnan and other provinces in China; Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil; Dresden Heath, Germany; Udmurtia, Russia; and western Kansas, USA.

Seasonality

Activity patterns vary by region and microhabitat. In temperate regions, are most commonly observed in summer and early fall. In the Cerrado biome of Brazil, larvae forage primarily during the dry season and are inactive during the rainy season due to waterlogged soils. In protected microhabitats within seasonal climates, larvae may forage year-round. Adults are frequently attracted to ultraviolet lights at night.

Diet

Larvae are predatory, feeding primarily on ants and other small ground-dwelling arthropods that fall into their pits. In experimental conditions, approximately 60% of prey captured by Myrmeleon bore were ants. They have been observed capturing beetles, daddy-long-legs, and other small insects. Prey is subdued with hollow that inject paralyzing and digestive fluids, allowing and consumption of liquefied tissues. feeding habits are poorly documented but are known to include soft-bodied insects and pollen.

Host Associations

Taiwanon (Diptera: Bombyliidae) - Reared from stages of Myrmeleon trigonois in artificial environment; first record from Chinese mainland
Schizodactylus inexpectatus - Dune that preys on some Myrmeleon

Life Cycle

Holometabolous development with four stages: , larva, pupa, and . Eggs are laid in sandy soil by females. Larvae pass through three instars, constructing and maintaining pit traps throughout their development. The larval stage can persist for extended periods; starved third-instar larvae of Myrmeleon bore survived an average of 83.9 days without food. When ready to pupate, the larva constructs a silken cocoon incorporating sand grains, within which occurs. Adult follows pupal development.

Behavior

Larvae are sedentary ambush that rarely relocate their pits once established. They construct conical pits by backwards in a spiral while flicking sand with their and . Prey capture involves sensing vibrations, flicking sand onto the victim to prevent escape, grasping with sickle-shaped mandibles, and submerging the prey beneath the sand. After feeding, dry carcasses are ejected from the pit with a violent head thrust. Larvae can only walk backwards and use this ability to rapidly bury themselves when disturbed. are weak, clumsy fliers that frequently rest among tall grasses and vegetation, aligning their bodies to become nearly invisible through camouflage.

Ecological Role

Larvae function as sit-and-wait that regulate of small ground-dwelling arthropods, particularly ants. Their pit traps represent a specialized foraging strategy that exploits sandy . They serve as prey for certain specialized predators such as the dune Schizodactylus inexpectatus. The contributes to local biodiversity in sand prairie and aridland , with some populations reaching high densities (documented at 0.177 larvae/m² in Germany, with total population estimates of 4,000–7,000 individuals at a single site).

Human Relevance

Larvae are familiar to many people as "doodlebugs" and have inspired children's folklore and charms. Their pits are easily observable in suitable and provide accessible opportunities for natural history observation. The larvae are sometimes kept in captivity for observation, requiring only a container of fine sand and periodic feeding with small insects. occasionally come to porch lights. The has served as inspiration for fictional creatures, notably the "Ceti eels" in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan. Some may have conservation significance in Europe, where specialized sandy habitats are threatened.

Similar Taxa

PalparesLarge African antlions in tribe Palparini with similar but substantially larger size (forewing length to 75 mm vs. smaller Myrmeleon); larvae are free-living and do not construct pits, instead hiding in sand and capturing ground-resting prey including grasshoppers
CuetaAfrican with pit-building larvae similar to Myrmeleon; distinguished by larval morphological features including capsule markings and bristle arrangements
HagenomyiaAfrican with pit-building larvae; one of few genera in southern Africa exhibiting this alongside Myrmeleon and Cueta
ScotoleonNearctic with free-living larvae that do not build pits; larvae hide under objects or roam beneath sand surface; often have elongated male with bracket-like claspers
GlenurusNearctic with spectacular black, white, and pink wingtip patterns in some ; larvae are free-living and do not construct pits
VellaNearctic giant antlions with wingspan of 100–120 mm; true giants of the with free-living larvae

Misconceptions

The "" technically applies to larvae, not , yet is frequently used for the entire . Many people assume all antlions build pits, but in North America only Myrmeleon does so; other have free-living larvae with different hunting strategies. Adults are often mistaken for or due to superficial similarity in wing shape and body form, but belong to a different order (Neuroptera vs. Odonata). The name is sometimes misspelled "Myrmeleonidae" or "Myrmelionidae" in popular and even scientific literature.