Holes in the Floridian Sand
Created | Updated Jul 29, 2005
Holes in the Florida sand are usually looked over by most people. Even people who have lived there their entire lives often have no idea what lies just an inch below their feet. These cone shaped holes reside very close to trees or houses many live out their lives thinking that it is simply from rain or a animal crossing the path. In fact these holes are clever traps set by the larve of a common Florida insect.
This insect is known as the ant lion, it itself is harmless to humans if found can be picked up and held in your hand and it will simply attempt to dig into your hand but with no avail. They are responsable for the landscape of the Florida sand as they dig their cone shapped holes in the ground and rest at the bottom under the sand. The cone is made by the ant lion and when an insect steps on the side the fine sand falls to the bottom. Of course some insects are more adept to sand the ant lion counteracts this by flicking sand at the insect until it falls.
As the insect falls the lion is waiting with their rather nasty looking jaws which are quite capable of injecting the ant or other small insects with digestive juices. This liquifies everything inside the insect which is than sucked out by the lion who quickly discards of the body. The lions will quickly fix any defects with its trap and than lay in wait for another meal.
The life of the ant lion isn't as easy as one might think though. Many birds and wasps make meals of them. Some wasps even lay their larve ontop of the lion and when it hatches it proceeds to make its first meal out of it. Of course the sheer numbers of ant lions insure there long survival some even making it do adulthood where they sprout their own wings simply to make it easier to find a mate.
Sitting just barely under the sand ant lions go hardly noticed by humans who look at their homes with wonder every day.
This insect is known as the ant lion, it itself is harmless to humans if found can be picked up and held in your hand and it will simply attempt to dig into your hand but with no avail. They are responsable for the landscape of the Florida sand as they dig their cone shapped holes in the ground and rest at the bottom under the sand. The cone is made by the ant lion and when an insect steps on the side the fine sand falls to the bottom. Of course some insects are more adept to sand the ant lion counteracts this by flicking sand at the insect until it falls.
As the insect falls the lion is waiting with their rather nasty looking jaws which are quite capable of injecting the ant or other small insects with digestive juices. This liquifies everything inside the insect which is than sucked out by the lion who quickly discards of the body. The lions will quickly fix any defects with its trap and than lay in wait for another meal.
The life of the ant lion isn't as easy as one might think though. Many birds and wasps make meals of them. Some wasps even lay their larve ontop of the lion and when it hatches it proceeds to make its first meal out of it. Of course the sheer numbers of ant lions insure there long survival some even making it do adulthood where they sprout their own wings simply to make it easier to find a mate.
Sitting just barely under the sand ant lions go hardly noticed by humans who look at their homes with wonder every day.
