5.7K views · 68 reactions | The wingless larvae of the antlion are voracious predators—and masters of engineering. Learn more: https://fcld.ly/ew5mh5f | News from Science | Facebook

The antlion larva is one of nature’s most ingenious hunters. It digs tiny cone-shaped pits in sandy soil that act as traps for ants and other small insects. The steep walls of the pit make it nearly impossible for prey to escape once they fall in. Hidden at the bottom, the larva waits motionless until an ant slips down the slope. Then, with lightning speed, it uses its powerful jaws to seize the victim and drag it beneath the sand. This strategy allows the antlion to feed efficiently while stayi

Timelapse: Antlion builds sand trap to catch and eat ants. I'm curious how widespread these are and if most people are familiar with them, so comment below if you have them in your area or not. An antlion is an insect that makes a funnel shaped trap in sandy soil, with themselves buried at the bottom. Ants and other insects get stuck in them and can't climb out, allowing the antlion to catch and eat them. I think I can do a better job in filming these but this one seemed good enough to post. The