The best drinking straw ever – Issue #79

Hello Explorer,
Ant lions are one of the most peculiar insects that are out there. The larvae look like a small fat body with a big head and massive mandibles. The adults look very similar to damselflies, but are in their own group along with Lacewings, Owl flies and Spoonwings. This group is known as the Neuroptera or Net-winged insects. The larvae of the Nueroptera have complex yet incredible mouthparts, which it uses to catch its prey and consume it afterwards.
To understand the Neuroptera’s mouthparts we first need understand insect mouthparts in general. Many insects have the same basic building block for mouthparts, and they are adapted to suite the insect’s dietary habits. The mandibles are usually large, hard, and movable mouthparts, which are used for cutting, biting, and crushing food items, and it can be compared to the teeth of mammals. The size, shape and strength of the mandibles depends on the insect’s diet. The maxilla are usually soft flexible structures that is located beneath the mandibles. The maxillae are used to grasp, manipulate, and process food items.
The larvae of Neuroptera all have long, curved, pointed mandibles that has a groove in which the maxilla fits perfectly. The space between the mandible and maxilla creates a small tube. The mandibles are hinged in the head of the ant lion and can be snapped shut very fast on an unsuspecting prey, usually a small insect, like an ant. Once the prey is caught the ant lion uses the tube that is formed between the mandible and maxilla to drink out all the body fluids of the prey.
Thus, Antlions’ mouth parts give them the perfect tool to grab a hold of their prey and then enjoy them as a drink! Did you ever think that there is something as strange as “Straw-teeth” in the world?

If you would like to send me a message with your answers, feel free to do so on Instagram @abugmanslife or via email to [email protected].