Cool creature

This evening our local weatherman gave this August's statistics. Five days above 100 degrees, and an average monthly temperature 10 degrees above normal, 94. Yes, it's been hot.
And with the heat, my activities have been restricted to whatever can be accomplished indoors, and with minimal heat generation and energy expenditure. After another sandwich dinner tonight, and with blinds drawn, we commented on how the extreme heat has reminded us of the other extreme, a blizzard. Schools were even closed today, as conditions become unsafe.


But, carrying on, unaffected by the discomfort the rest of the natural world seems to be displaying, the ant lions have taken up residence in their "usual" spot on the ramp to the barn.
Apparently, they prefer to be protected like this, with the eaves shielding the dirt from rain and harsh sun. It remains dry and loose year-round--the perfect building material for their pits. Each depressed ridge in the concrete ramp holds just enough dirt for them to doodle around. Many conical pits, with an ant lion buried at the center of each, are excavated in each ridge.
Each year, I know this is where I'll find them, fierce-looking mandibles ready for unwary dinner to tumble in.
Sometimes, I feed them a treat--and watch their dirt-throwing behavior as they attempt to snare their prey.
And sometimes I unearth one, just to meet the creature that builds with such skill, such a deadly trap for an ant.



Now, isn't he cool??