pit digging inchworm?(not quite an ant lion).

[Tarantula_Hawk]

They are larvae of a type of flies belonging to the family Vermileonidae, very interesting family as they have evolved the same behavior of true antlions.

 

[UrbanJungles]

I had already suggested that.

If they had big tan colored flat heads with pincer like mandibles then I'd say yes. Well did they?

Not all Cicindela larvae have tan colored heads...some are black and it may even depend on what level of development they are in.

 

[Black Widow88]

They are larvae of a type of flies belonging to the family Vermileonidae, very interesting family as they have evolved the same behavior of true antlions.

No.....you....I knew someone on here must've known what they were! *Googles it* Well someone knows their Diptera.

Wikipedia pretty much confirms it. Here you go, go and enjoy yourself. I'm going to look for more info and hopefully some pics of the larvae. Can you believe that they're sometimes called "Wormlions"?!

I swear you've just made my day. I learning new things about insects and spiders. Thank you!

Not all Cicindela have tan colored heads....some are black and it may even depend on what level of development they are in.

*Slaps hand to forehead* I completely forgot about that. Thank you for refreshing my memory. Me thinks I need to re-educate myself on the matters of Tiger Beetles.

But this is amazing as I though that the only insects who hunted ants in that fashion were none other then antlions.....

.....but I think deep down I knew that there might be exceptions.

 

[dtknow]

wow, great job. Description matches and photo does too. Though their specimen is much sandier.

I am sorta bummed they will turn into flies...ah well. Maybe I will raise them anyway?

 

[Galapoheros]

Wow that was interesting, never have heard of those before! Oh, and movie producers ...they prob have looked into it and the sp could very well be where they got the idea in Dune.

 

[Tarantula_Hawk]

Hehe my pleasure BlackWidow88

 

[Black Widow88]

YAAAAAAAAAAAY! I found piccies!

CLICKY!

But that's one of the pictures that I found when I Googled it. Very interesting indeed. I wonder what is known about the life cycle and exactly how they grab the ants.

I don't see anything that could possibly be used for grabbing ants so I was wondering about that. There should be at least something more revealing about them.

 

[dtknow]

I'd suppose they have piercing mouthparts of some sort. It looks though they simply wrap their head around the ant and pull it under.

Hope y'all can see why I called them inchworms.

 

[Black Widow88]

I'd suppose they have piercing mouthparts of some sort. It looks though they simply wrap their head around the ant and pull it under.

Hope y'all can see why I called them inchworms.

Hmmm, Well I would love to know for certain. And of course I can see why you would call them inchworms.

They really do look like our Geometrid friends. I also assume that they move like them too?

 

[dtknow]

Not at all. They dig into the dirt in a manner reminenscent of mealworms(or maggots )...then once underground fling sand violently until they have dug a pit. When pulled from the ground they either straighten out or assume the curled position and play dead.

 

[ZergFront]

Wow, I've never heard of those. Maybe cause I don't live in so cal.

I know what others are talking about, though. They have these carnivorous caterpillars of Hawaii, Eupithecia. They act like a still twig and when an insect or spider walks over them... WHAM!! Also, some passion vine caterpillars are cannibals when food is scarce(National Geographic article).

 

[UrbanJungles]

*Slaps hand to forehead* I completely forgot about that. Thank you for refreshing my memory. Me thinks I need to re-educate myself on the matters of Tiger Beetles.

]

No worries man, after years of following Tiger Beetles I'm still learning new things every day....great job with the ID!
:clap:

 

[Black Widow88]

Wow, I've never heard of those. Maybe cause I don't live in so cal.

I know what others are talking about, though. They have these carnivorous caterpillars of Hawaii, Eupithecia. They act like a still twig and when an insect or spider walks over them... WHAM!! Also, some passion vine caterpillars are cannibals when food is scarce(National Geographic article).

I remember reading about them. I must go and look them up even further.