Not A Dragonfly!

  The threat of a tropical storm hitting the Bayou has come and gone.  Things got a bit squally but that was about it which was good for us.  Others to our west are not faring so well.  Our damage was nothing more than losing a few boards off the pier and sustaining a bad case of cabin fever.  I took advantage of every break in the torrential rains to slip outside to "breathe" and poke around a bit.  All of this staying inside has my brain in a constant state of perplexity.  I needed to roam...so I did.  I, also, got soaking wet and had to change clothes six times today but it was well worth all of the laundry! 

  Down along the marsh edge, the waters flooded in and kept things interesting.  Critters of all sorts kept surprising me by scurrying out of my way.  At one point, what appeared to be a small dragonfly of some sort landed on my arm.  It fluttered haplessly against the wind so I figured the poor thing needed the resting spot.  It is in my nature to help critters of all kinds so I  tried to shelter it from the rain and wind.  Once we (the critter and I) made it to the greenhouse, things were a bit calmer and I actually had a chance to look at my hitchhiker.  This was not a dragonfly nor a damselfly!  I had picked up the adult version of an antlion!

  Antlions spend most of their time in the larvae state.  Around here, they can be found in sandy areas.  It is easy to recognize their presence as they make "funnel" traps to catch prey.  The larva creates a funnel-shaped divot in the sand and when an ant wanders in, the antlion flicks sand up the side to create an avalanche.  The sliding sand sends the ant right into the jaws of the antlion!  Once the larva turns into an adult, it is rarely seen since it is a nocturnal creature.  I happened upon this one in the late evening.  

  After admiring the critter, I released it under the edge of the Little Bayou House where it could be sheltered until its wings gained strength and the weather settled down a bit.  Tonight, the antlion adult will take flight in search of a mate.