What do ladybirds and dragonflies have in common? They are both predatory insects. Whether they actively pursue their prey, wait patiently for it to approach or set traps for it, insects are extremely successful hunters.
The walking legs of a stick insect
The swimming legs of a backswimmer
The mantis is probably one of the most well-known predators in the insect world. As a lurking hunter, it sits for hours at a time until suitable prey comes within reach. It then grabs it at lightning speed and with great precision. They are not fussy eaters either – it is not uncommon for females to devour males after mating.
The larvae of the antlions – or antlion lacewings – also have to be patient. They dig a funnel in loose sandy soil and bury themselves in the centre. As soon as an ant wanders into the funnel, it slides down to the centre and is overpowered by the antlion.
However, not all insects have the patience to wait for their prey – they actively go hunting instead. For example, dragonflies are agile hunters in the air. Ladybirds and green lacewings seek out plants infested with aphids and tiger beetles sprint after their prey. Eciton army ants are particularly unscrupulous, with the worker ants regularly launching foraging raids, where they march across the forest floor like an army. Through their sheer numbers, they are capable of conquering scorpions, spiders and even entire wasp nests.
