A Myrmeleontidae: antlions, from the Neuroptera order of antlions and owlflies. This order of insects of course contains neither ants, nor lions, owls, or flies—a staple in entomology to name unusual insects with compound names drawing from other animals—e.g., snakeflies, sawflies, and more.

http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/165100160

The antlion name honors the behaviour of their larvae, which live in ground burrows and trap passing ants with their fearsome mandibles.

#iNaturalist #Antlions #Myrmeleontidae #Neuroptera #entomology #insects #Crete

This sent me down a whole rabbit hole of #lacewings vs #antlions vs #mayflies...
Not a scientist (clearly)
Nice to know that mayflies are in huge clouds only over very clean, highly oxygenated water because their lifecycle means they spend much of it in the water.

Anyway ... "The world is so full of a number of things, I am sure we should all be as happy as kings!" ~~R.L. Stevenson

#insects #surfingtheweb

https://phys.org/news/2023-02-rare-insect-arkansas-walmart-historic.html

Antlion larva make little sand pits and wait under the sand at the bottom for tiny creatures to fall in. I dug this one out with a spoon, did a little photo shoot and put it back where I found it. #macrophotography #insects #antlions