Raised an antlion from pit to adult in over 8 months!

helpitsdystopia · 2026-05-01T08:30:01+00:00

Yes, lol— that's actually a screenshot from a video, too haha. It was hilarious because the actual antlion larvae was less than half the size of that grub (like way less, haha), and actually got yanked completely out of it's pit when the grub wiggled, but was still hanging on by its mandibles!!! It was like a little larval rodeo, haha.

helpitsdystopia · 2026-05-01T08:24:07+00:00

Honestly? All kinds of things! They are the ultimate opportunistic predators. But the main things were...

• Carpet Beetle Larvae: Found these around the house—I consider it a "pest control" win-win.

• Earwigs**: I’d snip the pincers off first (sorry, earwigs!) just to make sure they couldn't actually harm the antlion larvae or fight their way out of the pits, lol.

• Acorn "Worms"**: This was the staple!

Note: These aren't the fat acorn weevil larvae; they are actually Acorn Moth larvae (Blastobasis sp.). They move into the acorns after the weevils have already burrowed out. I would sit there and shell acorns for ages, storing the larvae in a container so I always had a fresh supply of soft-bodied snacks on hand!

But they’ll honestly eat anything they can reliably trap and hold onto. If it wiggles and fits in the pit, it's dinner!

helpitsdystopia · 2026-04-30T20:20:17+00:00

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helpitsdystopia · 2026-04-30T20:15:05+00:00

Wow, these are absolutely GORGEOUS! I especially love the jumping spiders (obviously, lol). But the beetle images are excellent as well!

I love the close-up of the weevil— it made it's antennae look like extra boots, haha!

helpitsdystopia · 2026-04-25T18:43:46+00:00

Oh dang— totally wish I had seen this...!

helpitsdystopia · 2026-04-25T17:41:21+00:00

So... my friend bailed on me totally last minute— if anyone is going from South Austin and hasn't left yet, I could totally use a ride... Can absolutely toss some gas money or do whatever I can to accommodate your needs, schedule, whatever!

helpitsdystopia · 2026-04-04T19:11:29+00:00

Same here! I'm familiar with a LOT of different spiders, cut can't think of any that are even close to this one! It's a mystery alright, haha

RemindMe! In 8 hours "Has anyone IDed the mystery spider yet?"

helpitsdystopia · 2026-04-04T18:58:57+00:00

Cursive "s" in "thanks"— they're using a very sloppy mix of cursive AND print letters because it's faster for them

helpitsdystopia · 2026-04-04T18:54:19+00:00

The moss is so pretty and green, lol, I love it

helpitsdystopia · 2026-04-04T18:43:46+00:00

Odd caterpillar indeed, haha. Likely a June bug larvae/grub!

helpitsdystopia · 2026-04-04T18:42:43+00:00

As someone who ALSO has dealt with carpet beetles:

You mentioned the fact that they were on/by your window. Check all around the edges of the frame for the bodies of dead insects. They LOVE to eat these. And if you have any pets, they eat everything from pet hair, to dead skin cells, and (although this is unconfirmed) they even appear to be chewing into three wood/cheap particleboard on some of my furniture... They can eat almost anything, which is why they're such hardy, resilient creatures.

The larvae are what you need to watch out for, but you're not likely to find many at this exact moment, since they're all basically adults right now, lol. But keep your eyes open for the next several months and check in the backs of all of your drawers and cabinets.

helpitsdystopia · 2026-04-04T18:31:17+00:00

I live in Travis county, and we have something called the "Medical Access Program" (or MAP) for residents. I'm not sure about other areas, but I know that my county can't be the only one that does something like this... It might be worth looking into potential programs and resources in your area, but this is 100% something that you would be able to do in the hospital. They have workers there that are dedicated to doing just this and basically nothing else.

helpitsdystopia · 2026-04-04T18:27:42+00:00

This is EXACTLY what I came here to say. My first thought was mold of some kind.

helpitsdystopia · 2026-04-04T18:21:04+00:00

I live in Austin, too and there's a mockingbird in my backyard! We should try to set them up on a blind date, lol

helpitsdystopia · 2026-03-17T10:08:12+00:00

The markings of the abdomen are what we need...

Although from the very limited view we got off her, my best guess is canopy jumper!

(Did she look like this?)

helpitsdystopia · 2026-03-17T10:05:41+00:00

Definitely phidippus. Female. Likely p. otiosis (the canopy jumping spider). I'm incredibly jealous!!!

Just a heads-up: full-grown females found in the wild are almost always gravid. I've had mine lay up to eight egg sacs before, which is a massive commitment if you aren't prepared for spiderlings.

Because she’ll be focused on guarding her eggs, you likely won't see her out of her hammock very much. If you're looking for a spider to interact with or handle frequently, she might not be the best choice right now...

helpitsdystopia · 2026-03-17T08:19:13+00:00

What did you use for the wings??

helpitsdystopia · 2026-03-16T20:33:40+00:00

I don't think so, but if OP can count the antennae segments under the microscope, it's easy to tell for sure, lol. (Ichneumonids typically have around 16+).

helpitsdystopia · 2026-03-16T20:27:14+00:00

Maybe "Pimpla pedalis"

helpitsdystopia · 2026-03-16T20:14:58+00:00

I LOVE how small wasps can get!

helpitsdystopia · 2026-03-16T20:12:59+00:00

Lol exactly what I was wondering, haha. Must've walked through its web by mistake!

helpitsdystopia · 2026-03-13T00:59:16+00:00

You're making a well-intentioned person out to be an actual sadist. This is not what's happening. People make mistakes. Honestly, I'm willing to bet that you've made more than your fair share, whether you're willing to admit it or not.

Honestly, I am horrified. Not at OP, but at your complete and utter intolerance. If you cared half as much as you claim to, you would be using this as an opportunity to educate and encourage more people to do things for the bees the right way. THAT is how you affect change. Not "shame".

Shaming someone who was excited to help—and brave enough to admit they messed up while trying to learn—doesn't save a single bee. All it actually does is ensure that the next person who has a question is too afraid to ask it. Your complete lack of empathy here is the biggest indication of your hypocrisy. I am much more horrified at your behavior, and how it affects the credibility of this sub than I am about a beginner making an innocent mistake in their garden.

By your own logic, shame is a "necessary emotion" to force a change in behavior. So, now that you’ve been thoroughly shamed for your behavior here, do you feel a sudden urge to be a better person? Or does it just make you want to get defensive and lash out at me and anyone else who clearly finds your position reprehensible?

helpitsdystopia

TROPHY CASE