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antlion

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.

antlion

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Antlion
(credit: William E. Ferguson)
Insect (family Myrmeleontidae) known in its larval stage for its aggressive capture of prey. The antlion larva digs a funnel-shaped sandy pit by using its oval, bristled abdomen, then buries itself in the pit with only its powerful jaws uncovered. Any small insect that ventures over the pit's edge slips to the bottom and is seized by the antlion, which sucks the contents of its victim and throws out the empty skin. The adult antlion does not feed. The best known of the 65 described species occurs in North America and Europe.



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