What Do Antlions Eat? (And How to Feed Yours)

It's right there in the name: antlion. But ants are only part of the story — and the way these tiny predators catch dinner is one of the coolest things in the insect world.

In the wild: a pit-trap predator

The antlion you keep is the larva — the stage that digs the little cone-shaped pit in the sand. It's a patient ambush hunter: buried at the bottom of its pit with only its jaws showing, it waits for a small insect to wander over the edge and tumble down the loose slope.

On the menu are ants (their favorite, and the source of the name), plus other small crawlers that fall in — tiny beetles, springtails, and the like. If prey tries to scramble back out, the antlion flicks a shower of sand to knock it down, then seizes it with a pair of curved, hollow jaws and quietly does the rest. (We break down the whole mechanism in How the Antlion's Pit Trap Works.)

The surprising part: antlions are low-maintenance eaters. A larva can go a remarkably long time between meals, so it doesn't take much to keep one happy.

Do adult antlions eat?

Eventually the larva pupates and emerges as a delicate, winged adult that looks a bit like a damselfly. Adults eat very little — some sip nectar or nibble pollen — and they live just long enough to mate and start the next generation. The real eating stage is the larva.

How to feed your antlion at home

Feeding is easy and genuinely fun to watch. The best feeder insects are small and soft enough for your antlion to handle:

• Small ants — the classic, and usually easy to find right outside.
• Flightless fruit flies or pinhead (baby) crickets — sold at most pet shops.
• A small mealworm now and then works too.

To feed, simply drop one small insect into or beside the pit and let your antlion take it from there — you'll often catch the sand-flick and the quick grab, which is the best part.

How often? About once a week is plenty. One small insect per feeding is enough; antlions are far easier to overfeed than to underfeed. If a meal goes untouched after a day, remove it so it doesn't disturb the sand, and try again in a few days.

What about water?

Antlions need very little — they get most of their moisture from their prey. There's no need for a water dish; an occasional light mist on one side of the sand is more than enough, and the sand should stay mostly dry, just how they like it. (More in our care guide.)

Quick feeding FAQ

How long can an antlion go without food? Surprisingly long — often a couple of weeks. A missed feeding is nothing to worry about.

What if it won't eat? It may not be hungry, or it could be getting ready to molt or pupate. Give it a few days and offer a smaller insect.

Can I overfeed? Yes — more than one small insect a week just leaves leftovers in the sand. Less is more.

That's really the whole secret: a small bug about once a week, dry sand, and a front-row seat to one of nature's tidiest little predators. New to antlions? Our kits come with everything you need to start.

— Artie & the Antlion Farms team