Here are a couple of photos we invite your input on.
The first is a regular occurrence on dusty ground. Every night. We wake in the mornings to find these ‘inverted cones’ in the dust or the sand. All different sizes, some alone, some in multiples. We assume it must be the work of either insects or small animals of some description. Can anyone tell us what makes these ‘holes’ & perhaps what their purpose is?
EDIT: Since writing the above, by coincidence we found the answer in a Queensland Parks brochure. The conical holes are made by the larvae of lacewings (a flying insect) called ‘Ant-lions’. These larvae, obviously capable of movement, create the holes which are ant traps. The unwitting ant attempts to cross the hole & falls down it’s steep, loose sides into the waiting pincers of the larvae. I had no idea that larvae could have pincers!
Secondly we have seen these ‘lines’ of ‘material’ on white barked gum trees, but only on the non-white patches which many have. The ‘material’ is soft & granular in appearance, & easily brushed off the tree with one’s hand. We wondered if they might be insect eggs of some sort, but the quantity, & size might suggest otherwise. Anyone know?
