Images of Africa
by John Walker

Zambia

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In sandy soil in southern Africa you'll often encounter small (about 2cm) conical pits like this one. These are dug by Antlions, larvæ of insects of the family Myrmeleontidae. An Antlion is a pint-size version of the Sarlacc sand monster in Return of the Jedi--it lurks at the bottom of the pit it's dug and devours anything unlucky enough to fall in, principally ants. A voracious feeder, it eventually metamorphosises into a flying insect resembling a dragonfly.

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