The common name of this insect comes from the larva, called an “Ant Lion,” known for its voracious appetite for ants. Larvae hide at the bottom of a small pit trap made in dry sandy soil, patiently waiting for ants and other small insects to tumble down the sloping sides. Adult Ant Lions, known as Owl Flies, resemble Damselflies, with a longer body and clubbed antennae, but, unlike Damselflies, are poor fliers.

Latin Name: Myrmeleon Formicarius

Habitat:Pine Flatwoods

Diet: Larva – small insects, especially ants; Adult – nectar or pollen, infrequently