The “mylonas” of our childhood: The insect that sets sand traps—20 species in Cyprus

In the sand, it looks like a small, perfectly formed crater. At the bottom, however, a patient predator lies hidden. It is the larva of an antlion, a lacewing insect in the family Myrmeleontidae, which has evolved one of the most remarkable hunting techniques in the insect world.

How it builds the trap

The larva chooses fine, dry, loose sand. Moving backwards, it traces a circle and uses its broad head as a shovel. It throws grains outwards, gradually creating an inverted cone with highly unstable walls.

It then buries itself in the centre. Usually only its large, sickle-shaped jaws remain above the surface. When an ant or another small arthropod steps onto the rim, the sand gives way and carries it towards the bottom. If the prey tries to climb out, the larva flings sand with its head, causing tiny landslides that make escape even more difficult.

The trap’s effectiveness relies on physics. Its walls form at almost the steepest angle the sand can hold before sliding. A study of two Cypriot species also showed that finer grains allow deeper and more complex pits.

Once the larva seizes its prey, it pierces it with its hollow jaws. It injects paralysing substances and digestive enzymes that dissolve the soft tissues. It then sucks out the liquefied contents and throws the empty casing out of the trap.

Not every species sets traps

The familiar funnel is not a feature of all antlions. Scientific studies show that pit-builders make up only a small part of the family. Many larvae lie in ambush beneath sand, stones or plant debris without digging cones.

Twenty species have been recorded in Cyprus

A study published in 2018 brought the number of confirmed antlion species in Cyprus to 20, excluding one uncertain species. Fourteen are widespread across the Mediterranean, three are mainly associated with the Middle East, and one, Delfimeus limassolicus, is considered endemic to Cyprus.

Two of the more common pit-building species on the island are Myrmeleon hyalinus and Cueta lineosa. Researchers collected larvae from sand dunes near Agios Sergios and Salamis. Myrmeleon hyalinus prefers warm, sandy habitats and often digs near the base of low-growing plants.

Scientists have recorded antlions in coastal dunes, dry grasslands, cultivated areas and pine forests. Records come from across the island, including Chloraka, Akrotiri, Geros, Platres and Karpasia.

“Mylonas” in Cyprus—“myrmigkoleontas” in Greece

In Cyprus, the larva that builds the sand trap is popularly known as “mylonas”, meaning “miller”. A Cypriot dictionary records this name for the insect, while its scientific and common Modern Greek name is “myrmigkoleontas”, or antlion.

In Greece, “myrmigkoleontas” and the learned form “myrmikoleon” predominate. Interestingly, the local name “mylonas” is also recorded in Crete. “Myrmigkoleontas” comes from the Ancient Greek words “myrmex” and “leon”: it means “lion of the ants”.

From the sand to the air

The larva can live for a long time, depending on the species, food supply and temperature. Once fully developed, it builds a spherical cocoon from silk and sand grains beneath the surface. The adult insect emerges from it, resembling a dragonfly but with distinctive antennae and wings that fold over its body.

Despite its dramatic hunting method, the antlion is considered beneficial and poses no medical danger to humans.

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Sources

• Scientific record of the 20 species in Cyprus—Fragmenta Entomologica
• Study of the traps of two Cypriot species—Journal of Experimental Biology
• Sand-throwing by antlion larvae—a scientific study
• Cypriot dictionary: “Mylonas” as the name of an insect
• A record of the name “mylonas” in Crete