The antlion is one of the most widespread and hardy insects in the U.S., and we have plenty of them down here in Florida. To homeowners, the antlion’s burrowing behavior or scary look can be alarming. So today we’ll discuss a bit of information about it.
The Florida Antlion is known mostly for its larval stage. As adult insects look pretty average, all things considered. Adult antlions resemble dragonflies. Also, they have two sets of wings and a long, thin thorax. But they are poor fliers and are nocturnal, unlike the sun-loving dragonfly. Adult antlions have a short lifespan. They usually die within a few weeks after emerging from their cocoons.
But we all know and love(?) these creatures for their larval stage. Antlion larvae have a round body with tiny hairs all over it. Most noticeably a set of large, pincher-like jaws. If they receive appropriate nourishment, larvae can grow to approximately one-half of an inch in length.
Homeowners may notice small funnel-shaped pits next to their foundations. Usually in dry, fine soil. Often these pits are under the eaves or next to porches. These areas are protected from direct rainfall.
Summertime Progress
Observant homeowners may also notice that as the summertime progresses the pits become larger in diameter. They will also become more widely spaced apart. Hidden under the soil at the bottom of each pit, a predatory immature antlion waits for unsuspecting ants and other small insects to fall into the pit
An antlion excavates its pit by using its oval-shaped abdomen. It plows its flat head as a shovel for flicking sand upward. It circles back through the sand and repeatedly flicks sand upward, raising its head above the soil surface.
If an antlion larva encounters a small pebble or another object when it is constructing its pit, it will attempt to flick the object out. If the object is too large, it may literally be “pushed” up and out of the pit by the larva. When the pit is completed, the larva lies motionless on the bottom. There they are concealed beneath the sand, with only its long, piercing mandibles exposed.
Despite being fierce, you don’t need to worry about the Florida antlion. They are beneficial to have, as they cause no damage to structures or flowers and are completely harmless to humans.
