Antlion

The handiwork of Pit-Trapping Antlions is becoming obvious in dry soil in Ohio. The antlions excavate a funnel-shaped pit, measuring around 3/4 - 2" wide and 1/2" deep, with the antlion buried at the bottom.

Pit-trapping antlions (Myrmeleon immaculatus, family Myrmeleontidae) have long been one of my favorite insects. My fascination is shared with fellow antlion enthusiast, Ron Wilson (Natorp's Nursery Outlet & Landscaping, Mason, OH), who has had a thriving private stock of antlions in his home landscape for years. He always lets me know when pits appear meaning the antlions are starting to roar.

Last season, I posted a BYGL Alert titled, “Antlions Roar Again!” [Sept. 25, 2020] in which I described finding a large group of pit-trapping antlions (Myrmeleon immaculatus, family Myrmeleontidae) in southwest Ohio. I lamented that the last time I saw a sizable collection of these fascinating sit-and-wait predators in Greater Cincinnati was in 2017.

The last time I saw a sizable collection of pit-trapping antlions (Myrmeleon immaculatus, family Myrmeleontidae) in southwest Ohio was in 2017. The conical pits created by one of my favorite insects have been a rarity since then. That’s why I was thrilled to come across large numbers of pits today in Sharon Woods which is part of Great Parks of Hamilton County in the southwest part of the state.

Ron Wilson (Natorp's) shared an e-mail message with me this morning from a listener of his radio show about a strange insect that kept "trying to cover itself with dirt."  An ID didn't come to my mind … I claim because of a lack of coffee rather than an age-related issue.  Ron chided me by repeating the part about the insect trying to cover itself with dirt.  My last functional neuron fired and I realized the message was about one of our favorite insects:  antions (Myrmeleon immaculatus).

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