Subject: Flying insect covered in white hairs
Geographic location of the bug: Southeast Florida
Date: 09/30/2017
Time: 08:09 AM EDT
I’ve been living in Florida all my life but this is a first. I did not kill it or disturb it.I just took a picture it.I was at a park and it was resting on a fence post.Can you tell me the name of this thing and what it does?
How you want your letter signed: George M
Antlion
Dear George,
This is an Antlion in the genus Vella. The common name refers to the larvae, also called Doodle Bugs, that live in sandy soil at the bottom of a pit where they wait with only their mandibles exposed, ready to eat anything that tumbles into the pit.
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Location: Florida
I discovered an Antlion on the outside screen on my Lanai. It has just been sitting there for about an hour. I live in Grand Island, Florida (09-18-2021). My photo matched yours almost exactly with a slightly different design on the wings. Length is about 3 inches.