Antlion

Location : Palode, Thiruvananthapuram

Kingdom:       Animalia

Phylum:          Arthropoda

Class:            Insecta

Subclass:      Myrientomata

Section:         Pterygota 

Division:        Neoptilota

Subdivision:  Endopterygota

Superorder:  Neuropteroidea

Order:            Neuroptera

Suborder:      Myrmeleontiformia

Superfamily:  Myrmeleontoidea

Family:           Myrmeleontidae

The larva always moves backwards.

The larva makes a conical shaped pit in the loose sand and waiting for a prey, usually ants and small insects, which passing through the sides of the pit and slipped into the pit. 

The angle of the pit is adjusted so that no prey can escape from it. Simultaneously the antlion flicks sand to the victim and grabs it when it falls near. 

The two powerful jaws of the larva is capable of grabbing the prey and injecting a liquid venom which liquefies the body parts of the victim inside its exoskeleton.

Larval stage takes about 2-3 years to become pupa. Pupation period is about 20 days. 

Adult emerging in the evening and comes to the surface and climbs to the nearby plant and takes nearly half an hour for stretching its wings fully.

Adult antlion fly is having a clubbed antennae. They do not eat ant or insects. Usually they may not eat anything. Its aim is to mate and reproduction. Its life span is only about 20 to 45 days.