Ant Lion Larva (Doodlebug)

If you see 1 to 2 inch craters in sandy areas, those are caused by these little guys. Ants stumble in and get pulled underground by those jaws. Sometimes, it the ant tries to escape the lion will flick sand to knock it into the pit. Adult ant lions resemble clumsy mayflies or large flying termites.

Big Trees National Park, California
August 8, 2003

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