ant lion
or antlion
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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.
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Origin of ant lion
First recorded in 1805–15
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
British Dictionary definitions for ant lion
antlion
/ (ˈæntˌlaɪən) /
noun
Also called: antlion fly any of various neuropterous insects of the family Myrmeleontidae, which typically resemble dragonflies and are most common in tropical regions
Also called (US): doodlebug the larva of this insect, which has very large jaws and buries itself in the sand to await its prey
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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