Those funnel-shaped indentations in the dirt?
 

Steve Wertz wrote:
What insect makes those perfectly shaped, inverted cone-shaped
impressions in the dirt? I was watching them at work this weekend
- about 6 all with a square foot, each one spinning around under
the dirt kicking up soil into a perfectly smooth funnel shape.

I couldn't see what they under that dirt, but my guess is that
small ants or other insects walk across the funnel and make the
dirt fall into the funnel, allowing the unknown insect at the
bottom to detect where the prey is, and pounce at it.

I'd like to look them up and get their story, but I don't know
what they are. Anyone?

-sw
That's something that I called a doodle bug when I was a kid. Don't
know the real name of the bug. Take a broom straw and when the cone is
being made, insert the straw, twisting it slightly into the bottom of
the cone. If you doodle around long enough, the bug will latch onto the
straw and you can ease him to the surface and get a look at him.

--
Gary Brady
Austin, TX

Those funnel-shaped indentations in the dirt?
 

Do they eat FIRE ANTS?

If so, how can I get a BUNCH of them???!! I'd like to raise them! I'd like
to get them protected status!


"Gary Brady" wrote in message
ink.net...
Steve Wertz wrote:
What insect makes those perfectly shaped, inverted cone-shaped
impressions in the dirt? I was watching them at work this weekend
- about 6 all with a square foot, each one spinning around under
the dirt kicking up soil into a perfectly smooth funnel shape. I
couldn't see what they under that dirt, but my guess is that
small ants or other insects walk across the funnel and make the
dirt fall into the funnel, allowing the unknown insect at the
bottom to detect where the prey is, and pounce at it.

I'd like to look them up and get their story, but I don't know
what they are. Anyone?

-sw
That's something that I called a doodle bug when I was a kid. Don't know
the real name of the bug. Take a broom straw and when the cone is being
made, insert the straw, twisting it slightly into the bottom of the cone.
If you doodle around long enough, the bug will latch onto the straw and
you can ease him to the surface and get a look at him.

--
Gary Brady
Austin, TX

Those funnel-shaped indentations in the dirt?
 

On Wed, 19 Jul 2006 02:11:32 GMT, "oldhickory"
wrote:

Do they eat FIRE ANTS?

If so, how can I get a BUNCH of them???!! I'd like to raise them! I'd like
to get them protected status!

Here you go:

http://www.antlionfarms.com/

They are the predatory larvae of certain species of insects. When the
doodle bug.ant lion senses a small insect in the funnel, it pitches
dust up and the falling dust drags the hapless insect down to the ant
lions jaws.

I am guessing, but I suspect the ant lion would not be an effective
predator against red imported fire ants.


Elliot Richmond
Itinerant astronomy teacher

Those funnel-shaped indentations in the dirt?
 

In article ,
"oldhickory" wrote:

Do they eat FIRE ANTS?

Probably. :-)

If so, how can I get a BUNCH of them???!! I'd like to raise them! I'd like
to get them protected status!

There are websites where you can order them.



"Gary Brady" wrote in message
ink.net...
Steve Wertz wrote:
What insect makes those perfectly shaped, inverted cone-shaped
impressions in the dirt? I was watching them at work this weekend
- about 6 all with a square foot, each one spinning around under
the dirt kicking up soil into a perfectly smooth funnel shape. I
couldn't see what they under that dirt, but my guess is that
small ants or other insects walk across the funnel and make the
dirt fall into the funnel, allowing the unknown insect at the
bottom to detect where the prey is, and pounce at it.

I'd like to look them up and get their story, but I don't know
what they are. Anyone?

-sw
That's something that I called a doodle bug when I was a kid. Don't know
the real name of the bug. Take a broom straw and when the cone is being
made, insert the straw, twisting it slightly into the bottom of the cone.
If you doodle around long enough, the bug will latch onto the straw and
you can ease him to the surface and get a look at him.

--
Gary Brady
Austin, TX

--
Peace!
Om

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch"
-- Jack Nicholson