One inquiry that always amuses me is to receive a description or image of antlion pits in the soil along the side of the house. I know antlions are cold-blooded killers that mercilessly suck all the fluids out of captured ants. Still, the seeming ingenuity of creating a conical pit in dry, sandy soil in a sheltered location to capture food that slides into the pit amazes me. I also appreciate that there always seem to be several pits in close proximity, as shown in the photo submitted by Cerro Gordo County Extension on behalf of Marvin Katuin. Thanks for sending a fun and entertaining inquiry!
Read more about antlions – also called doodlebugs – in our online article at https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/antlions-and-doodlebugs
Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Yard and Garden, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required. This article was originally published on June 4, 2021. The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.