Antlion

For several evening while taking the dogs for their evening walk I've spotted these two antlion traps next to the cattle path. One would think that this is a very dangerous spot for them, considering what damage a cows hoof could do. Obviously the antlions have weighed up the pro's and con's and decided it's worth the risk. Notice that the traps are right on the edge of the path.

I remember as a child watching these traps avidly for hours waiting for an ant to meet it's doom, sometimes assisting in it's demise. Once in these traps there is no escape for an ant, the sides just keep crumbling under it's feet, and quick as a flash the antlion grabs it's helpless prey.

Antlions are the larval form of Myrmeleontidae insects, also known as doodlebugs in North America.

Photo above that I took this evening, of the two antlion traps.

Diagram of the antlion funnel, with antlion catching it's prey. (Wikipedia)

Every ants worse nightmare! (Wikipedia)

The beast turns into a beauty. (Wikipedia) The adult form of this insect, also know as an antlion lacewing.