South Africa/NC: Mokala NP – Antlions

Besides large antelopes and many birds, we also explored the small creatures, like antlions. Antlions (Myrmeleontidae) are bizarre insects that look and behave like something from the movie “Dune” – they live in sandy and loose soil areas where they create their distinctive pit traps to catch prey. Their larvae, which are often called “doodlebugs” because of the patterns they make in the sand while searching for a suitable location to dig their traps, dig small, conical pits in dry, sandy soil, often near tree roots or sheltered areas. They lie buried at the bottom of the pit, waiting for small insects (like ants) to fall in. When an ant stumbles into the pit (or is intentionally thrown in like we did – I know, so brutal!), the loose sand prevents it from escaping, and the antlion larva flicks more sand to keep it trapped before dragging it underground to consume. Totally like “Dune” sandstorms! After feeding and growing for weeks or months, the larva forms a silk and sand cocoon underground and remains in this pupal stage for several weeks before emerging as an adult. Adult antlions resemble dragonflies, but with more delicate bodies. They are nocturnal and, unlike their larvae, they feed on nectar and live only for a short period, mainly to reproduce.