antlions
|ant-li-on|
/ˈænt.laɪ.ən/
(antlion)
ant-eating insect (larva that traps ants)
Etymology
'antlion' originates from English, specifically the compound of 'ant' + 'lion', where 'ant' referred to the insect and 'lion' was used metaphorically to mean a voracious predator.
'antlion' was formed as a compound in Middle English (written as 'ant-lion') describing a creature that behaves like a 'lion' to ants; the term persisted into Modern English with the same compound form.
Initially it meant literally 'a lion of ants'—i.e., a creature that preys on ants—and over time the meaning has remained broadly the same, applied to both the larval (pit-making) stage and the adult insect.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a predatory insect of the family Myrmeleontidae; the adult resembles a slender, long-winged insect similar to a dragonfly or lacewing.
Antlions are nocturnal and are often attracted to lights at night.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the larval stage of an antlion (often called a doodlebug), which typically digs a conical pit in loose soil or sand to trap ants and other small insects.
In dry sandy areas you can find antlions by the small funnel-shaped pits they make.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/12 15:38