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
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.
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.