160 A NATURALIST IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION 



The conical holes of the young are conspicuous in spots (Fig. 

 163), though you may travel over these black oak dunes for a 

 long time without encountering them. Still they are confined 

 to the black oak region. The pit is 2 inches or so in diameter 

 and is a crater-like depression in the loose sand. At the bottom 



under the sand lies the larva, an 

 ugly little duckling. When an ant 

 or other small insect goes on a jour- 

 ney it may step over the edge of 

 such a depression, slide down with 

 the caving sand in spite of its best 

 efforts to escape, and be seized by 

 the jaws of the waiting larva. A 

 grass blade stuck down into the 

 sand at the bottom of the pit will 

 sometimes bring up 

 the larva that fastens 

 its jaws into it and 

 will not let go even 

 when pulled out of its 

 lair. One may go fish- 

 ing for the tiger beetle 

 larvae in the same 

 way with occasional 

 success. The ant-lion 

 itself is a gauzy 

 winged creature with 

 long body that re- 

 minds you somewhat of a very lazy damsel fly. Digger wasps are 

 again present, particularly a big black and orange one (Ammophila 

 procera) . A curious assemblage of southwestern desert forms are 

 found here on the ground stratum. The cactus (Fig. 60) is a strik- 

 ing plant, particularly if you inadvertently sit down on a patch. 

 The six-lined lizard (Fig. 61) is common in the same locality, 

 and an occasional parokeet is seen on the trees or shrubs (rare). 



FIG. 163. Ant-lion, Myrmelion, above (after 

 Shelford) and holes of its larvae. 



