group species insect family known fiercely predatory habits larvae species dig pits trap passing ants prey adult insects known fly dusk dark mistakenly identified known north_america larvae referred strange marks leave sand worldwide distribution greatest diversity occurs tropics species found cold temperate locations european commonly occur dry sandy habitats larvae easily pits larvae hide debris ambush prey leaf litter poorly represented fossil record generally accepted group closest living relatives thought predatory actions larvae attracted attention history mentioned literature classical times etymology exact meaning uncertain thought refer ants forming large percentage prey insect lion merely suggesting destroyer hunter case term classical antiquity called north_america odd winding trails leaves sand relocating look scientific type genus family derived lion loan translation names common europe european middle eastern languages larvae known local term corresponding description fairly small large ranging african genus contains largest examples largest european species wingspan north american species approach size adult pairs long narrow translucent wings long slender abdomen somewhat resemble belong different winged insects adults easily distinguished prominent antennae long head combined pattern wing differs compared adults normally found night search mate adult typically nocturnal rarely seen day males species unique structure bearing known base rear wing abdomen males usually longer females extra lobe tip abdomen females shows greater variation males depending sites usually bears digging finger like extension ferocious looking animal robust body abdomen bearing pairs walking legs forms slender mobile neck large square flattened head bears enormous pair like jaws sharp hollow projections jaws formed contain deep groove fits forming enclosed canal venom victim digest soft parts clad forward pointing help anchor exert greater traction enabling subdue prey considerably larger larvae unusual insects lacking waste generated stage stored spin silk rest eventually end stage distribution species found parts world greatest diversity warmer areas best known species larvae dig pits trap prey means species live range usually dry habitats including open woodland floors clad dunes bases river banks road raised buildings vacant lots life cycle apart pit trap forming taxa biology members family belong little studied life cycle begins egg laying suitable location female repeatedly prospective laying site tip abdomen substrate lays egg depending species lives leaves debris pieces wood hides crack funnel shaped pit loose material ambush predators catching prey risky business food arrives species maintaining trap costly larvae low rates survive long periods food years complete life cycle mature faster plentiful food survive months feeding cooler climates dig way deeper remain inactive winter maximum size undergoes makes sand stuck fine silk spun slender rear end body buried centimetres deep sand completion transformation adult insect month emerges case leaving works way surface minutes adult wings fully opened flies search mate adult considerably larger exhibit greatest size adult type insect virtue fact adult extremely thin exceptionally low mass unit volume adult typically lives days insects survive long days ecology larvae eat small mainly ants adults species eat predators small certain species resembling structurally makes trap hides hole tree passing prey japan larvae surface rocks years awaiting prey time coated recorded square metre predator minutes seizing prey jaws venom begins suck products extremely sensitive ground vibrations low frequency sounds insect crawling ground source vibrations differences timing arrival waves detected hairs sides segments trap building species average sized pit deep wide edge behavior observed larvae dig sort pit feed ants having marked chosen site circular groove starts crawl backwards abdomen soil aid leg places consecutive particles head smart throws little pile clear scene operations proceeding gradually works way center slowly moves round round pit gradually gets deeper deeper slope angle reaches critical angle angle sand maintain verge collapse slight disturbance pit completed buried soil jaws projecting surface wide opened position tip cone steep sloped trap guides prey mouth avoiding crater simplest efficient traps animal kingdom sides pit consist loose sand angle afford insecure small insects inadvertently venture edge ants slipping prey immediately seized attempts scramble walls pit checked efforts brought showers loose sand thrown throwing loose sand pit sides pit causing collapse bring prey matter actually strikes prey sand showers larvae capable capturing killing variety insects subdue small spiders projections jaws hollow victim contents consumed dry pit pit throwing collapsed material center pit walls angle larvae require loose soil necessarily sand larvae prefer dry places protected rain tiny small insects grows larger larger pits catches larger prey larger use ability trap prey australian lives pit traps feeds prey caught female wasp allows trapped head evolution closest living relatives related extinct considered likely stem groups clade phylogeny explored mitochondrial dna sequences issues remain group generally agreed giving following shown genera fossil uncertain basal position fossil record small standards fossils origin million years ago time separated usually recognized early select genera european australia including uncertain systematic position fossil culture folklore popular folklore southern united_states people poem chant come hole similar practices recorded africa caribbean china australia mythical lion hybrid written 2nd century animal descriptions paired christian morals lion described said death dual nature lion nature father eat meat half mother eat grain offspring eat paired biblical verse matthew fictional lion probably derived job french naturalist wrote lion makes funnel sand victim slant funnel hunter turns neck catapult
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