antlion
- noun
- /ˈæntˌlaɪən/
:
antlión
- Ants often fall victim to the stealthy traps set by an antlion larva.
Examples
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We dropped ants into fields of antlion pits, watching with fascination as the lions would suddenly emerge to drag their prey below.
Fiction book (2001) -
Yamishibai Antlion Pit
-
An antlion pit...?
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In some species of hairy, sand-loving antlion larvae, the hairs point forward while the insects move backward through the sand.
Academic text (1993) -
The larva of an antlion digs a pit in the sand to trap unsuspecting ants.
-
Watching an antlion emerge from its sand pit is a fascinating sight.
Synonyms
A winged insect like a dragonfly whose young dig small cone-shaped pits in sand to trap ants and other insects
A family of insects whose young dig cone-shaped pits to trap ants and small insects
A young insect that makes a small sand pit to catch ants
A small baby insect that makes funnel-shaped traps in dry sand
Compounds
A winged insect like a dragonfly whose young dig small cone-shaped pits in sand to trap ants and other insects
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Antlion comes from the simple words ant and lion, so it means a 'lion' for ants. The young insect digs small sand pits to trap ants, so thinking of a tiny 'lion' that hunts ants helps you remember what an antlion is.
