Antlion Death Trap | National Geographic

this is a story about crafty fearsome

this is a story about crafty fearsome lions no not this kind of lion this kind

lions no not this kind of lion this kind

lions no not this kind of lion this kind of lion you’re looking at the predatory

of lion you’re looking at the predatory

of lion you’re looking at the predatory larvae of the ant lion this creature can

larvae of the ant lion this creature can

larvae of the ant lion this creature can remain in the larval stage for up to

remain in the larval stage for up to

remain in the larval stage for up to three years

three years

three years like the bait cats this specimen is in

like the bait cats this specimen is in

like the bait cats this specimen is in Africa although antlion species can be

Africa although antlion species can be

Africa although antlion species can be found in warm regions around the world

found in warm regions around the world

found in warm regions around the world these Lions have ferocious jaws only

these Lions have ferocious jaws only

these Lions have ferocious jaws only these jaws are hollow allowing it to

these jaws are hollow allowing it to

these jaws are hollow allowing it to suck the life juices out of what else is

suck the life juices out of what else is

suck the life juices out of what else is or whatever it can trap the sand has to

or whatever it can trap the sand has to

or whatever it can trap the sand has to be just right fine grain soft for this

be just right fine grain soft for this

be just right fine grain soft for this crafty critter to rig a trap that will

crafty critter to rig a trap that will

crafty critter to rig a trap that will make catching a meal a slam-dunk

the antlion makes like a steam shovel

the antlion makes like a steam shovel lobbing the sand and pebbles out of the

lobbing the sand and pebbles out of the

lobbing the sand and pebbles out of the pit he burrows into the bottom ready to

pit he burrows into the bottom ready to

pit he burrows into the bottom ready to use those awesome choppers on whatever

use those awesome choppers on whatever

use those awesome choppers on whatever bumbles into this ambush sure enough an

bumbles into this ambush sure enough an

bumbles into this ambush sure enough an ant slips into his ditch it tries to

ant slips into his ditch it tries to

ant slips into his ditch it tries to escape but the antlion larva doesn’t

escape but the antlion larva doesn’t

escape but the antlion larva doesn’t give up that easily he pummels the ant

give up that easily he pummels the ant

give up that easily he pummels the ant with sand just as it’s about to get out

with sand just as it’s about to get out

with sand just as it’s about to get out of there

of there

of there no matter what the ant does it’s doomed

no matter what the ant does it’s doomed

no matter what the ant does it’s doomed to slide back into the jaws of death

the larval antlion may be a heck of a

the larval antlion may be a heck of a lot smaller than its namesake but it is

lot smaller than its namesake but it is

lot smaller than its namesake but it is every bit the voracious predator