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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Antlions, Lacewings and Allies (Neuroptera) » Antlions (Myrmeleontidae)

Family Myrmeleontidae - Antlions

Classification · Other Common Names · Pronunciation · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Food · Life Cycle · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Devious Cat - Dendroleon obsoletus Antlion - Myrmeleon Antlion Adult antlion preparing to fly - Euptilon ornatum antlion - Dendroleon obsoletus Antlion - Menkeleon bellulus spot-winged antlion - Dendroleon obsoletus Antlion species
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Neuroptera (Antlions, Lacewings and Allies)
Family Myrmeleontidae (Antlions)
Other Common Names
Doodlebugs (after tracks left by larvae--esp. Myrmeleon--in sand)
Pronunciation
meer-mel-lee-ON-tih-dee
Explanation of Names
From genus Myrmeleon, which is an altered form of New Latin (Greek) Myrmecoleon--μιρμηκολεων, from μιρμηξ (μιρμηκ-) ant, plus λεων lion (1).
Numbers
92 species in 13 genera in North America listed at nearctica.com
Size
Large: adult body length 40-80 mm
Identification
Antennae fairly short (about the length of the head and thorax combined), clubbed, and often curved at the tip somewhat like a field hockey stick. Wings transparent, mottled with brown and black. Images showing some of these characteristics:
  

Wing venation of Myrmeleon:
  
Food
Larvae are voracious predators that lie in wait for their insect prey under sand or loose soil. Members of genus Myrmeleon (known as "doodlebugs") are most frequently noticed--they dig a shallow pit in loose sand to trap prey. Members of some other genera live in tree holes.
  
Life Cycle
Most species are nocturnal or crepuscular and often come to lights at night.
See Also
Dobsonflies have narrow antennae with tapered ends, bigger heads and jaws.
    

Fishflies have serrate (with sawlike teeth) or pectinate (feathery) antennae.
    

Owlflies have very long antennae and large bulging eyes.
    
Print References
(2)
Internet References
characteristics and references (John Foltz, U. of Florida)
Works Cited
1.The Century Dictionary: an encyclopedic lexicon of the English language
2.American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico
By Ross H. Arnett
Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Hannah Nendick-Mason, Robin McLeod
Last updated 2 July, 2009 - 7:37am

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