Last year as I explored the wooded area around the pond in our backyard, I noticed a few cone like depressions in the fine sandy soil. It wasn't a curiosity to me as I knew what they were and what had made them.
These were the dens of Ant Lions, a small insect that devours other small insects, ants in particular. This year I noticed an abundance of these depression, looks as though our Ant Lions are having little problem at proliferating, but then I can say the same for the ants. For 2 years we've been fighting a losing battle with the Argentine Pharaoh Ants they are everywhere. So go Ant Lions !!!
I guess I have this child like wonder and curiosity about the glorious things in nature...from dinosaurs to ant lions...from flowers to fungi...it's all so interesting. I found a wonderful website that's all about these marvelous little critters, it is posted below for your enjoyment and/or share it with your children.
Here's an interesting web-link, though it is geared for children but I find it most enlightening: http://antlionfarms.com/how_an_antlion_hunts
Posts
wow...I never knew there were Ant LIONS!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of ant lions before... they sure make pretty impressions! ;)
ReplyDeleteEllaPhante and cabin+cub Guess even the insect world has its own little lions. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for following my blog, The Plumed Pen!.., I always enjoy meeting new fellow bloggers.
ReplyDeleteThat ant lion story is really interesting; I'll have to check out thaT LINK!..,
I'LL COME BY SOON TO SEE WHAT ELSE YOU ARE POSTING!~ Interesting blog!
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SilkPurse - Thanks for checking out my blog. I visted your blog the other day and think it is wonderful. :)
ReplyDeletePakKaramu - I appreciate your visiting my blog, hope you liked it.
What an awesomely cool discovery! I would have sat there for hours putting stuff out there for them to snatch :)
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