2. The larval stage of a winged insect which, in a general way, resembles a dragonfly; however, unlike the dragonfly, it is a very weak flyer.
Myrmeleontidae larvae typically lie in wait for their insect prey, some constructing conical pitfall traps (pits in dry sand or dust that trap ants when they fall into the pits).
When an ant-lion is ready to set its "trap", it backs around in a tight circle while tossing out sand.
Eventually, a small pit about an inch deep is formed, having steeply sloping sides. The ant-lion then hides beneath the sand at the bottom of the pit and waits.
It may have to wait a few hours or several days, but eventually an ant is likely to come along and investigate the pit. When this happens, the hidden ant-lion begins to toss sand into the air with its jaws and the ant will tumble into the pit where it is grabbed in the ant-lion's needle like jaws.
These jaws are hollow, like hypodermic needles, and at once a powerful poison is injected into the ant's body. This kills the ant and also slowly digests its body contents which are then siphoned out through the hollow jaws of the ant-lion.
When the body of the ant is sucked dry, t is tossed out of the pit and the ant-lion then settles down to wait for the arrival of another unsuspecting ant.