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The animal on the cover of Oracle in a Nutshell is a myrmeleon, an insect found in abundance throughout the world. Adults have a long, slender abdomen that can grow to nearly two inches in length, and the longer of their two pairs of wings can span two and a half inches. These wings contain elaborate patterns of cross-veined nerves that resemble those of small dragonflies, but myrmeleon belong to an entirely different family. Unlike dragonflies, myrmeleon are nocturnal and have a pair of clubbed antennae. They undergo a complete metamorphosis with egg, larval, pupal, and winged adult stages. In its larval stage, the myrmeleon is commonly referred to as a “doodlebug” or “antlion.” These strange-looking wingless creatures have oversized heads with long spiny jaws, short legs, and bristled bodies. They are primarily known for constructing sand pits in riverbeds or the soft areas surrounding tree roots. When ants and other small insects wander into these pits, the antlion digs deeper into the hole, causing miniature landslides that bury the intruder in sand. The myrmeleon larva then sucks bodily fluid from the trapped insect, tosses its carcass from the pit, and patiently prepares for another unlucky victim.
When first hatched, antlions ...