ant lion

or ant·li·on

noun

any of several insects belonging to the family Myrmeleontidae, of the order Neuroptera, the larvae of which dig a pit in sand where they lie in wait to prey upon ants or other insects that lose their footing.

Nearby words

ant bear, ant bird, ant cow, ant egg, ant hill, ant lion, ant-, ant-pipit, ant-thrush, ant., anta

Origin of ant lion

First recorded in 1805–15

Examples from the Web for ant lion

But the interest lies in the grub, or "ant-lion" proper, which has a most singular way of catching its insect victims.
The Animal World, A Book of Natural History|Theodore Wood
Suppose that the ant-lion dies of hunger and thirst in her pit?
Melmoth Reconciled|Honore de Balzac
This ant-lion charged into the placidly feeding aphids on the milkweed plant.
Nightmare Planet|Murray Leinster
This accident, so far from discouraging the ant-lion, only stimulates it to more persevering efforts.
Insect Architecture|James Rennie

The ambuscade of the Ant-lion is classic; it does not differ greatly from the others.
The Industries of Animals|Frdric Houssay