Glenurus gratus

Adults distinguished from other antlion genera by bold black, white, and pink wingtip coloration. Clubbed antennae separate from damselflies and dragonflies (which have long, thread-like or bristle-like antennae). Larvae lack the pit-building behavior of Myrmeleon; instead found buried just below soil surface with jaws exposed. Glenurus luniger is a congener with similar wing pattern but ranges in western North America.

Dry, sandy soils. Prime locations include areas with fine, powdery soil beneath rock overhangs, at bases of trees, under bridges, and in dirt floors of old barns and sheds. Requires perpetually dry conditions; rarely found in exposed, moist situations.

North America. Recorded from Florida and throughout eastern and central United States. Western congeners in genus Glenurus occur in Arizona and nearby states.

Adults active during warmer months, frequently attracted to outdoor lights at night. Most often observed at dusk among tall grasses.

Complete metamorphosis. Eggs laid in sandy soil. Larvae are subterranean predators. Pupation occurs in silken cocoon underground, with sand grains incorporated into cocoon structure. Adult emergence from pupal case.

Larvae are ambush predators that bury themselves just below the soil surface with jaws agape, waiting for small ground-dwelling arthropods to pass within striking distance. Unlike Myrmeleon larvae, they do not construct conical pits. Adults fly clumsily and are highly cryptic; when alighting on vegetation, they align their bodies to flatten against the substrate and become essentially invisible. Wings with dark spots and speckles break up their outline.

Larval stage functions as predator of small ground-dwelling arthropods including ants and beetles. Adults may consume soft-bodied insects and pollen, though feeding habits remain poorly documented.

Larvae sometimes kept in captivity for observation by providing containers of fine sand and live prey. Adults occasionally appear at porch lights and window screens, sometimes causing surprise due to their striking appearance. No economic importance documented.

• Myrmeleon spp.Larvae construct conical pits in sand to trap prey, whereas Glenurus gratus larvae bury themselves without building pits. Adults lack the bold black, white, and pink wingtip pattern.
• Glenurus lunigerShares distinctive wingtip coloration pattern but occurs in western North America (Arizona, western states), while G. gratus is eastern/central in distribution.
• Scotoleon spp.Adult males have long abdomens with bracket-like claspers similar to Glenurus, but lack the characteristic black, white, and pink wing markings.

The common name "doodlebug" properly applies to antlion larvae generally, but specifically refers to pit-digging Myrmeleon larvae in North American usage. Glenurus gratus larvae do not make pits or create the "doodles" (random cursive trails) in sand associated with the name. Adults are frequently mistaken for damselflies due to superficial similarity in body shape and wing posture, but the clubbed antennae immediately distinguish antlions.

• antlion
• doodlebug
• Neuroptera
• Myrmeleontidae
• ambush predator
• cryptic adult
• picture-winged

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Pits of despair for ground dwelling insects: Antlions, Family Myrmeleontidae — Bug of the Week
• Bug Eric: "Doodlebugs" (Antlions)
• Rare Cycad Moth Found in New Location in South Africa
• Antlion, Glenurus gratus (Say) (Insecta: Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae)