New to me!

[urbpan]

This came fluttering into my face at work yesterday.




It's an adult antlion if I'm not mistaken. (Am I mistaken, scientists?)



It calmed down when I gave it a stick to perch on.



Sorry I took so many pictures--all my life and I've never seen one before.



Apparently they're nocturnal, and on the right background they're pretty hard to see!

See this post for more on antlions.

Comments

[ankhanu.livejournal.com]

Antlion sounds about right; possibly a female.

[okaree.livejournal.com]

Yep, that's an antlion! Not as fun to play with as the larval guys, but still nice to look at.

Wa-shaw!

[g-weir.livejournal.com]

Hey I was at the fresh Pond reservoir last weekend and at the visitor station they had some photos of a large red-and-black wasp-like insect that the local ranger had encountered but was unable to identify. Sounds like he should be posting here.

Also, from 'fluttered in my face' to 'pinched between fingers for photos' speaks of some spectacular reflexes. Did you shout 'Wa-shaw! when you snatched the bug out of the air?

Re: Wa-shaw!

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

To be honest, it had a very weak moth-like flight. Plus I had the chopsticks Mr. Miyagi gave me.

Re: Wa-shaw!

[badnoodles.livejournal.com]

Most of the Megaloptera/Neuroptera (a very active classification war) are not terribly good fliers. They're the most primitive group of the holometabolous insects (the ones with pupae), and I don't think evolution has completely sorted out the wing situation yet.

[potentialtoburn.livejournal.com]

your nails are as short as mine!

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

I eat 'em.

[ndozo.livejournal.com]

Do you ever look at www.whatsthatbug.com? People send in photos and get help IDing bugs. Fun browsing.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Whenever I do some bug research that site is always one of the top hits. It's pretty good. I like their "we don't advoctate exterminators" banner.

[bellelvsbeast.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, perty! :)

[bluelinegoddess.livejournal.com]

I remember as a kid digging up an antlion, expecting something so much greater than the silly little grub it actually was.

I had no idea they grew up! Colour me informed!

[(Anonymous)]

I had no idea that the ant lions I knew and loved were just the larval forms! Thanks for the info.

Karen
http://rurality.blogspot.com

[hissilliness.livejournal.com]

I've been reading about antlions all my life (there's a good fanciful one in Finn Family Moomintroll and an obvious antlion stand-in eating Boba Fett in Return of the Jedi), but I've still never seen one. Grr!