Let’s have a little fun, a little learning and a little YIKES! today with the ANT LION:

The Ant Lion has two interesting nicknames… the Doodlebug and the Sand Dragon.  Each of these nicknames tells us a little something about the habits of the Ant Lion.

First, the Ant Lion’s movements make little doodle-like figures in sand as it looks for places to build its deadly sand traps.

Second, the Ant Lion has a unique feeding method.  It constructs its funnel-shaped depressions/traps/cones in the sand it finds, then hides in these funnels while waiting for prey such as small spiders and other ants.  When prey falls into the trap, either the inescapable sand walls, the fangs of the Ant Lion (or both… YIKES!) prevents the victim from escape.  Hence, the nickname Sand Lion.

It is said to be the Ant Lion because it’s the Lion among Ants.

The Ant Lion is characterized by its long, clubbed antennae and stiff bristles that cover its body.  The bristles allow the Ant Lion to stabilize itself while attacking its prey.

The Ant Lion is beneficial to man for its natural pest-eating, mostly other ants.  The Ant Lion is also known to feed on the dangerous Fire Ant.

Introduce your kids and grandkids to the Ant Lion.  Just the name of this insect makes it worth a quick look.  The life-cycle of the Ant Lion is particularly interesting… with some fierce details.  Check it out!

Join me here each day in June for JUNE BUGS on 365 Days of Literacy for Kids! – a little fun, a little learning and a little YIKES!