Sand Traps and Nosy Pups!

Yesterday, I had Sunny, the pup, out doing puppy things.  She would nose around here and there, grab a plant or two to tug on and roll in the grass.  I was keeping the ever-vigilant watch on her every move as she likes to make an escape now and again.  I have had enough of chasing her through the marsh or down in the creek to know better than to just let her roam.  THIS roamer does not return when called!  Anyway, while we were out and about, she started nosing around in the sand.  She would sniff then pounce..sniff then pounce..I figured I had better investigate before she pounced her way out of my reach.

All I could see were some little sand funnels.  These were what held her interest!  Antlions!  The tiny larva of the Antlion Lacewing.  Most folks only see the traps of the antlion as the larvae are quick to retreat under the sand when threatened.  The traps are perfectly formed funnels in the sand.  Any bug that happens to wander into this funnel will soon realize that it is a futile effort to climb out.  Most all are doomed to be clamped into the sickle-like jaws of the waiting antlion.  Usually, the hapless bug falling into the trap is an ant..hence the name "antlion" but occasionally some other critter will trip into the sand trap.  Today, there was a wood louse.  It had wandered a bit too close to the edge of the sand trap and the "pffting" or flicking up of sand by the antlion, caused the poor creature to fall further into the funnel.  It was a goner.  Once down in the bottom of the sand funnel, the wood louse was grasped by the sharp jaws and injected with venom.  Supper was to be had by the antlion and well, another critter met an untimely death.  So goes life on the wild side.

Sunny, on the other hand, was bemused by the pffting of sand.  Each time the antlion would kick up a bit of sand, Sunny would pounce..and there went all the hard work of the antlion.  No more funnel to be used as a snare.  Sunny would move on to the next funnel and wait for the sand to flick up...POUNCE!  She destroyed another well-laid trap!  I let her pounce on a few more before luring her back to the rose garden with a dead squash plant.  These, by the way, are the new toy of choice for this puppy!  Who knew that antlion funnels and dead squash plants could be so much fun!  Silly puppy!