Myrmeleon (Myrmeleon) crudelis Walker 1853

From southern North America through Central America (5).

Antlions are found mainly in loose, sandy soils in areas of low rainfall. In areas of high rainfall, they are generally found under logs or rock overhangs, where the soil is drier (2). Their pit trap site selection is strongly influenced by abiotic factors such as temperature, light, soil texture, soil depth, and moisture. Their pit selection is more heavily influenced by these abiotic factors than by biotic factors such as prey availability (2).

Myrmeleon crudelis spends most of itslife in the larval stage, where it behaves as a sit-and-wait predator to capture prey. Larvae build conical pit traps in fine, sandy soils by throwing sand with their mouthparts. The larvae wait at the bottom of these pits and use their large mandibles to capture small arthropods (mostly ants) that fall into the pits (2). They are capable of regulating the speed of each mandible independently when they strike based on the position of the prey in order to maximize capture rate (3). The larvae relocate their pits during the night (1).

M. crudelis larvae have large abdomens and heads, with long mandibles. Their mouth parts capture prey and inject digestive enzymes, and then suck out the insides. The larvae go through three instar stages, usually lasting one to three years in total (2). When fully grown, the larvae are 10-12mm in length. They spin cocoons out of silk. After metamorphosis (antlions are holometabolous), they then emerge as carnivorous, crepuscular or nocturnal adults, which resemble damselflies. The adults are 5-6cm in length and are somewhat weak fliers (4).

Myrmeleon crudelis là một loài côn trùng trong họ Myrmeleontidae thuộc bộ Neuroptera. Loài này được Walker miêu tả năm 1853.