Our temporary pond has attracted and sustained all sorts of creatures, but perhaps none more unusual than the voracious Water Tiger. Theresa and Margaret each managed to fish one of these underwater raptors out of the pond, accomodating their new "pets" in plastic cups and feeding them [gasp] tadpoles!
In our not-for-the-squeamish video clip, Margaret introduces her new companion as a "Water Tiger," although she thought at first that it was a dragonfly larvae. We discovered on the internet later that Water Tigers are actually the larvae of the Large Diving Beetle. Like dragonfly larvae, Water Tigers are ferocious predators, feeding on just about anything they can trap in their hook-like jaws. Interestingly, our specimens are different from the ones in the internet photos, in that they have hairlike appendanges down the length of their bodies, reminding me of oars on a galley ship. ***
Please click here for the clip: Water Tiger in the process of eating a tadpole. [By the way, friends, have no fear, the toothbrush on the side of the cup is an old one that is part of our nature kit!]
Perhaps the girls' inexplicable fondness for these troll-like "Tigers" stems from the fact that they are so alike in mouth-part and manner to another aggressive arthropod we know intimately, the Ant Lion. The girls began raising ant lions almost a year ago, never tiring of dropping hapless ants into the creatures' cunningly constructed cone-shaped pits.
As with most things, their ant lions inspired riveting stories and poetry throughout the year.
Here are a few poems Agnes wrote about a villainous ant lion for the girls' ongoing original epic, "The Great Tarantulian Wars":
Nancy's Song
Come into my tunnel, you pesky black ant,
I'm only a tired old beast,
Get some sand for your anthill--you know that you need it,
I'll do you no harm in the least!
Front legs in front of me, back legs before--
Death comes to you swift if you enter my door!
Never mind my fierce jaws--I shall bury them, see?
Come closer--now that does the trick!
If you lose your footing then up I shall spring--
I'll have you for lunch in a tick!
Front legs in front of me, back legs before,
My jaws are the trap and my tunnel's the lure!
I'll suck your corpse dry and I'll fling it up high,
Then I shall be on the alert,
In a minute or so I'm expecting a guest--
The fool shall provide my dessert!
Front legs in front of me, back legs before,
One ant's not enough. I shall murder some more!
Here is yet another poetry selection, no less ominous than the first:
He who feels the jaws of death
Is destined for his final breath.
Only the ants of the Warrior Clan
Can escape from the terror of sand.
You young and foolish, old and wise,
Hear what I say--beware the rise!
Over the sand, take heed take heed,
Beware of where the tunnel leads!
And the drama is not all fiction when it comes to these unlikely pets. This is the epitaph Agnes wrote in memory of Roger, the first of our ant lions to meet an untimely demise. Please note the "ant lion" emoticon cleverly fashioned in his honor.
In life you were
The terror of sand
Your name is mourned
Throughout this land.
The ants were glad
To see you go,
But your relations
Miss you so.
( )
O
@
______
***Please check the comments section for Theresa's insight on our larval friend--the multiple oarlike appendages mentioned in the narrative are found on hellgrammites, the larvae of the Dobsonfly. They are similar to diving beetle larvae and have the same eating habits, although, interestingly, they usually prefer swift currents in streams. Our tranquil pool is anything but that, although I supppose, with limited habitats available, these rapacious rascals can spring up in less than ideal surroundings.
Bookworm: This all sounds so interesting! We like the sound of those Great Tarantulian Wars!
Crackerjack: Ant Lions?! Hmmm ... would Ant Lions really EAT an ant? Curious!
The boys were riveted by this post Alice! They're digging out the insect guides as I type, LOL! :)
Posted by: Dawn | June 09, 2006 at 02:00 PM
Thanks so much, Dawn and boys! If you can't find ant lions living in the sand near you, you may purchase them through: http://www.antlionfarms.com/
We did not bother buying the expensive habitat for them--yogurt cups for each individual ant lion work perfectly well and keep them from attacking each other.
Posted by: Alice | June 09, 2006 at 03:10 PM
I love the poems about the antlions. Growing up in FL we always called them "doodle-bugs" and I was so surprised when I got older and first heard the more fitting name "ant lion." Your water tiger looks alot like what we have in creeks around here called a "Hellgrammite", which is the larvae of the Dobsonfly. They are also very aggressive. I wouldn't want to get bit by either one!
Posted by: Theresa | June 09, 2006 at 03:34 PM
Theresa, thanks for the information. Our friends do look like Dobsonfly Larvae. That accounts for the "oars" down the side of its body. Interesting that the Dobsonfly would have chosen our motionless pond to lay eggs. The information says that they live their lives in fast moving streams. I guess, with limited habitats available, they will lay eggs in less than ideal circumstances.
Posted by: Alice | June 09, 2006 at 03:42 PM
Yes, interesting. I have only seen them in swift-moving mountain streams here, which is why I only suggested that yours resembled a hellgrammite, rather than positively identifying them as such. Who knows!
Posted by: Theresa | June 09, 2006 at 04:03 PM
Gee, I was going to guess hellgrammite, too...I have seen hellgrammites in still ponds in your area, Alice...if you keep it, I'll buzz by this week and double check. Fun documentary video...heheh. I predict a career at NG for the girls!
Posted by: MacBeth | June 11, 2006 at 04:52 PM