The ant lion seldom stalks or pursues prey.
Instead, it digs deep, tapering pits about 60 feet in
diameter, buries itself at the bottom beneath a covering
of sand, gravel, and stones, then patiently waits for falling
victims. Half of the time, the entrance to the pit looks
like a funnel lined with sand. The rest of the time it
looks like the entrance to a cave or lair. A creature
coming within three feet of the edge of the entrance has a
chance of slipping in the loose soil and sand and sliding
into the pit. A creature entering the pit is likey to slidie
to the bottom. A character who takes precautions when
approaching or entering the pit, such as securing himself
to a tree with a rope, will not slip into the pit.
When a victim lands in the bottom of the pit, the
ant lion bursts from its covering of sand and stones and
attempts to grab its victim with its mandibles. The ant
lion impales its victim with its barbs, crushes with its
mandibles, then grinds its mandibles back and forth in a
sawing motion.
The ant lion is a huge, vicious insect that lurks in the
bottom of deep pits, feeding on creatures unlucky enough
to fall in. Ant lions live in badlands, desert fringes, and
other areas with loose soil and sand.
The ant lion resembles a cross between a mole and
a giant ant. Its body, gray or sandy brown in color, is
covered completely by a leathery exoskeleton with patches
of coarse black bristles that are sensitive to movement
and odor. It has deep set beady eyes, rows of jagged teeth
capable of both tearing and grinding, and six thick legs
with sharp claws and flat bristles. The claws are used for
digging while the bristles sweep away the loose soil. The
ant lion's most prominent features are its mandibles,
silvery gray and razor-edged, extending three feet from it's
mouth. A single barb centered on the inner ridge of each
mandible is used to impale and hold prey.
