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First published online September 14, 2007
Journal of Experimental Biology 210, 3337-3343 (2007)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2007
doi: 10.1242/jeb.004473

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Orientation towards prey in antlions: efficient use of wave propagation in sand

Arnold Fertin^* and Jérôme Casas

Université de Tours, IRBI UMR CNRS 6035, Parc Grandmont, 37200 Tours, France

^* Author for correspondence (e-mail: arnold.fertin{at}etu.univ-tours.fr)

Accepted 19 July 2007

Substrate-borne vibration for locating mates, predators and prey is widespread in the animal kingdown. Antlion larvae dig funnel-shaped traps to catch ants and they are totally immersed in dry sand. We used a playback setup reproducing an ant walking on sand to clearly demonstrate that antlions use sand-borne vibrations to locate their prey. Half the tested animals moved towards the stimulus source. The shoot angle of sand tossing was very close to the target angle, indicating excellent ability to perceive stimulus direction. We also discuss orientation mechanisms in sand, a medium with highly unusual wave propagation properties.

Key words: Antlion trap, sit-and-wait predation, vibratory perception, orientation, physics of sand, wave propagation