ant lion

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Explanation of "Ant Lion"

Definition: The term "ant lion" refers to a type of insect that has two main stages in its life: as an adult, it resembles a small dragonfly, and as a young insect (larva), it is known for creating conical pits in the ground to catch ants and other small insects.

Advanced Usage:

In a more scientific context, "ant lions" belong to the family Myrmeleontidae. They are known for their predatory behavior, especially in their larval stage when they hunt for prey.

Word Variants:

• Larva: The young stage of the ant lion is often called a "doodlebug."
• Adult: The winged form of the ant lion, which has a similar appearance to a dragonfly.

Different Meanings:

• In general, the term "ant lion" specifically refers to the insect described above. It does not have multiple meanings beyond this context.

Synonyms:

• Doodlebug (for the larval stage)
• Myrmeleontid (referring to the family of insects)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While "ant lion" does not have specific idioms or phrasal verbs associated with it, you might find related expressions in discussions about insects or nature, such as: - "Waiting for the other shoe to drop," which means waiting for something bad to happen, similar to how an ant lion waits for prey to fall into its trap.

Summary:

The word "ant lion" is a noun used to describe an interesting insect known for its unique hunting method as a larva.

Academic

Noun

1. winged insect resembling a dragonfly; the larvae (doodlebugs) dig conical pits where they wait to catch e.g. ants
2. the larva of any of several insects

Synonyms

• antlion
• antlion fly
• doodlebug