Categories
Neuropterans: Lacewings, Antlions, and OwlfliesNeither dragon nor fair damsel?
Hello,
We found this little fellow flying about the house. Three years ago I found and photographed what seems to be the same type of creature dead in a spider web, much less identifiable. The body is about 1" to maybe 1-1/4" long. It flies like a dragonfly, but it folds its wings back like a damselfly. I had to disturb it a bit to get the photo with more open wings. Unlike a damselfly, it has quite pronounced antennae. It also seems to prefer to land flat on a flat (usually vertical) area rather than perching like a dragonfly. I’m at a loss and so is a friend who is better at identification. Do you know what it is?
Dave
Oak Ridge, TN
Hi Dave,
We are totally smitten by the poetry of your subject line. This is an Antlion. Antlion larvae are known as Doodlebugs. Doodlebugs dig a pit in sandy soil, and wait buried at the bottom with only their formidable jaws exposed. They devour any small prey that slips into the pit.
Hello Daniel,
Thank you very much! We have the larval form of antlions aplenty. I’ve never realized what the adult form looked like and I would never have thought of it. Now I am surprised that I have not seen more of these.
Dave
I like This
Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting.
Post a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.