antlion

The English name of a genus of insects. [MYRMELEON.] It belongs to the order Neuroptera, and has gauzy wings like a dragon-fly, from which, however, it may be at IMG:content-0568.png:[blocks in formation] once distinguished by having longer antenne. The species are called Ant-lions from the extraordinary habits of their larvæ, which construct a funnel-shaped pitfall in the sandy or dusty ground, at the bottom of which they bury themselves all but their antennæ. When ants or other insects are hurrying along they are apt to mi their balance and tumble into the pitfalls, where they are at once devoured. It is said that when they do not quite lose their equilibrium on the brink of the aby , they are helped into the jaws of death by a shower of sand or dust flung up from below. Ant-lions occur in the south of Europe, in India, .