Natural-born killers of the insect world

The Myrmeleontidae family of lacewings from the Neuroptera order of insects consists of about 2 000 species of which 125 are found in South Africa.

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The different larvae of these familial species of dragonfly-like insects, known as antlions, are no longer than about 1,3cm, yet when viewed under a magnifying glass, they seem to double in size to look like miniature monsters armed with sickle-shaped pincers and hairy legs.

Immediately after it emerges from an egg, the antlion’s instinct to kill and feed on insects and arachnids compels most of them to seek out sandy soil in which they can construct funnel-shaped pit traps.

These traps provide a steady flow of prey for the ferocious antlion to build energy reserves to successfully pupate and metamorphosise into an adult lacewing.

DEATH PIT

The antlion’s unique funnel-shaped pit traps are simple and brutally effective. Little creatures simply wander into them and then tumble to the lowest point from where the antlion, submerged in the sand, rises to kill them.