Myrmeleontidae larvae are commonly known as what?

• A. Lacewings
• B. Antlions
• C. Dobsonflies
• D. Mantises

Answer: (B)

Myrmeleontidae refers to a group of neuropteran insects whose larvae are famous pit-digging ambush predators called antlions. These larvae burrow into loose sand and dig conical pits, lurking at the bottom with their large jaws to grab ants and other small prey as they fall in. The common name antlion is used for the larvae (and often the adults too), with the larval stage sometimes nicknamed a doodlebug because of its distinctive digging habit. The other insects listed belong to different groups—lacewings are related but belong to different families, dobsonflies are in a separate family, and mantises are in a different order entirely—so they aren’t the Myrmeleontidae larvae.