Antlion larvae

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Antlion larvae
Photo Information
Copyright: Siavash Taravati (aisvash) Silver Note Writer [C: 5 W: 0 N: 18] (70)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-03-02
Categories: Insects
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/200 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-03-07 5:41
Viewed: 675
Points: 8
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Antlion(Order Neuroptera-Family: Myrmeleontidae)larvae usually build pits of the upside-down cone shape. They wait at the buttom of the trap for the passengers (mostly ants). When the ants fall into the pit, suddenly the antlion larva comes out and throw sand particles up to hit the trapped ant which tries to climb the pit.

By throwing the sands up and shaking the sand particles, the larva makes the ant to glissade into the pit wall, then the larva catches the ant, hit it hardly to the pit walls several times and sinks the ant into the sands for preventing ants respiration.

After the ant dies. The larva comes up with the ants in it's mandibles and starts to suck the fluids of the larva.

This information is provided by my personal observation.
saeedabbasi, jazdzurka has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To jazdzurka: Hiaisvash 1 03-08 02:23
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Critiques [Translate]

This is amazing! And your Note is outstanding! It is also very akin to the "trap" which is set by the crabspider which I have been observing in my area. Thanx Siavash for your sharing! Salaam, AbuJayson

dear Siavash ,
nice and interesting moment.
well done

ghorbanat
Saeed

Hi Siavash
Your picture is not very impressive in the thumbnail, so there are not too many people that have a closer look. But it is their mistake.
I really like your picture, cause the nature is not always colorfull, but is always interesting. I admire your picture also because it is not too easy to see the antlion larvae (much easier is only to see their pits).
Good point of view, and the larvae is visible despite the fact that it is not very contrasting.
Thanks for sharing
Ania

Hello Siavash,
A very interesting image, I never see that kind of insect. Amazing camouflage.
good job
Hernán

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