female antlion

Class: Hexapoda (animals with six legs - includes all insects)
Order: Neuroptera (alderflies, dobsonflies, lacewings, etc.)
    neuro = nerve and ptera = wings (singular is pteron)
    Neuropteroid wings have a lacy appearance caused by the large
    number of thin black veins that run through them.
Family: Myrmeleontidae (antlions)
Species: undetermined
Common Name: antlion (general)
Date: 2001 August 12
Place: Guadalupe Mountains National Park
    Pine Springs Visitor Center (attracted by lights)

Adult antlions can be distinguished from damselflies or small dragonflies by their weaker flight and the presence of noticeable antennae (in the picture taken with a flash, each antenna blends with its respective shadow).

Juvenile antlions, or "doodlebugs", construct conical pits in soft soil to trap small insects, often ants, on which they feed. On both of my stays in the Park, I found a cluster of pits in McKittrick Canyon. In 2003 I also found some pits in the backyard Frijole Ranch. Unfortunately, it was late in the day when I found these so the center of the pit in the picture is shaded and the doodlebug does not show up.

antlion pit

antlion pit, home of the doodlebug
2003 September 28 in the middle of the backyard at Frijole Ranch

Links

Note: This is a personal web site and is not affiliated with the National Park Service or Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Contact information for the author, Ron Lyons, is accessible through the Index Page referenced below. Thank you.