Are these from a spider or insect?

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yukoner2 Duncan, BC Jun 13, 2015

In a small patch of our yard there's some very fine sand. Today I noticed these cone-shaped indentations that appear to have been made by some insect or arachnid. Each is about three inches across.

I'm in Duncan on Vancouver Island. Any ideas?

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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Jun 14, 2015

These pits are made by the larvae of insects known as ant lions, the larvae lay in wait at the bottom of the pit, hidden under the dirt/sand, waiting for their dinner to blunder into the pit -
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-32_ant_lion.htm

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MsMaati Newburgh, IN(Zone 6a) Jun 14, 2015

Yes, ant lions. We used to call them doodle bugs because on the beach at the river if you got down close to them and said doodle doodle doodle they would start moving and sometimes come up to see what was disturbing there trap. Kids had fun with them.

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yukoner2 Duncan, BC Jun 14, 2015

Are ant lions something we should let be or try to get rid of? Can use the help keeping the ant population down. :-)

This message was edited Jun 14, 2015 8:32 AM

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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Jun 14, 2015

Just let 'em be...

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