| Antlions Temporal range: Early Cretaceous – Recent
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| Distoleon tetragrammicus | |
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| Distoleon tetragrammicus larva | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Neuroptera |
| Superfamily: | Myrmeleontoidea |
| Family: | Myrmeleontidae Latreille, 1802 |
| Subfamilies | |
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see text | |
The antlions are a group of about 2,000 species of insect in the neuropteran family Myrmeleontidae. They are known for the predatory habits of their larvae, which mostly dig pits to trap passing ants or other prey. In North America, the larvae are sometimes referred to as doodlebugs because of the marks they leave in the sand. The adult insects are less well known due to their relatively short lifespans in comparison with the larvae. Adults, sometimes known as antlion lacewings, mostly fly at dusk or just after dark and may be mistakenly identified as dragonflies or damselflies.
Antlions have a worldwide distribution. The greatest diversity occurs in the tropics, but a few species are found in cold-temperate locations, one such being the European Euroleon nostras. They most commonly occur in dry and sandy habitats where the larvae can easily excavate their pits, but some larvae hide under debris or ambush their prey among leaf litter.
Antlions are poorly represented in the fossil record. Myrmeleontiformia is generally accepted to be a monophyletic group, and within the Myrmeleontoidea, the antlions' closest living relatives are thought to be the owlflies (Ascalaphidae). A 2019 study finds Myrmeleontidae to be monophyletic, aside from Stilbopteryginae and Palparinae, which form separate clades closer to Ascalaphidae.[1] The predatory actions of the larvae have attracted attention throughout history and antlions have been mentioned in literature since classical times.
- ^ Jones, Joshua R. (November 2019). "Total-evidence phylogeny of the owlflies (Neuroptera, Ascalaphidae) supports a new higher-level classification". Zoologica Scripta. 48 (6): 761–782. doi:10.1111/zsc.12382. ISSN 0300-3256. S2CID 208581837.