What are Antlions

Antlions undergo complete metamorphosis, transitioning through four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

1. Egg Stage

• Female antlions lay eggs in dry, sandy environments, ensuring the larvae have access to the substrate required for their predatory traps.
• Each egg is deposited individually, often buried slightly beneath the surface.

2. Larval Stage

• The larva is the most recognized and studied stage of the antlion’s life cycle.
• Physical Characteristics:
  • Larvae are robust, with large jaws (mandibles) designed for grasping and injecting venom into their prey.
  • Their body is covered with bristles to aid in burrowing and camouflage.
• Behavior:
  • Larvae dig conical pits in loose soil or sand to trap prey.
  • When an insect, typically an ant, falls into the pit, the larva uses its jaws to drag it below the surface, injecting digestive enzymes to consume it.

3. Pupal Stage

• After consuming enough prey, the larva constructs a silken cocoon in the sand, where it undergoes transformation into an adult.
• The pupal stage lasts several weeks, depending on environmental conditions.

4. Adult Stage

• Adult antlions resemble damselflies but are weak fliers and primarily nocturnal.
• They feed on nectar or are non-feeding, focusing on reproduction before their short lifespan ends.