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Habitat
Adults: terrestrial
Immatures: terrestrial
Feeding Habits
Adults: predaceous
Immatures: predaceous
Size: to mm
Flight : weak flier
North American Species: 89
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Neuroptera Myrmeliontidae
Antlions
Front Wings: membranous
Hind Wings: membranous
Mouthparts: chewing
Antenna Length: shorter than body
Antenna Shape: clubbed
Front Legs: unmodified
Hind Legs: unmodified
Special Characteristics:
Adult antlions resemble damselflies but have clubbed antennae and different wing venation. The wings are clear in some species and irregularly spotted in others.
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Comments: Antlions are better known as larvae. The larvae hide themselves in the bottom of a small conical pit, made in sand or dust, and wait with their long mandibles open for small insects to fall into the pit. When an insect falls to the bottom of the pit the antlion captures it and sucks out its body fluids.
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