Antlions

Antlions These massive insects reside only in the desert of the Attohwa Chasm and are often found buried in the sand, waiting for their prey to unsuspectingly step into their trap. Tan in color, presumably an evolutionary attempt at camouflage, their bulk is anything but hidden when above ground. Not known for their valuable body parts, antlions are often found to carry Scarlet Stones, the only known method for their acquisition.

Family Information Type: Vermin Subfamilies: Pitlion Common Behavior: A, L, H Weak against: Strong against: Charmable: Pankration: Aspir: Drain:

Special Attacks

Special Abilities	Promathia Areas	Wings of the Goddess Areas	Pankration
Sandpit - Single target Bind.	Check		Check
Sandblast - 8' AoE Blind.	Check		Check
Pit Ambush - Extremely powerful, single-target attack. Used only by black Antlions (Pitlions), who are normally hidden under cracked ground and aggro using this move. Wipes Shadows. (Is not a TP ability)	Check		Check
Venom Spray - Cone Attack Poison (15/tic).	Check		Check
Mandibular Bite - Single target Damage.	Check	Check	Check
Gravitic Horn - Heavy wind damage in a fan-shaped area of effect. Resets enmity. Only used by certain Notorious Monsters.	Check	Check	X
Quake Blast - Earth damage in an area of effect and removes all equipment. Only used by certain Notorious Monsters.	Check	Check	X
Note: Notorious Monsters in this family may use all of the above and/or additional unique special abilities.

Notorious Monsters in Family

Name	Spawn Information	Level	Zone	Notable Drop(s)
Alastor Antlion	Forced Spawn by Feeler Antlion when it uses Sandblast.	83	Attohwa Chasm	Rostrum Pumps
Ambusher Antlion	Lottery Spawn from the Trench Antlion around (E-8) - (E-9).	75-77	Attohwa Chasm	Archer's Jupon
Feeler Antlion	Forced Spawn by trading an Antlion Trap to the ??? at (F-10).	73-75	Attohwa Chasm	Spawns Alastor Antlion.
Myrmecoleon	Spawned by bringing Lachrymater above it, where it will use Pit Ambush and instantly kill the Lachrymater.		Abyssea - Tahrongi	Owleyes Tactical Mantle Kengo Hachimaki Atma of the Impaler
Aggressor Antlion	Timed Spawn around (E-8).		Abyssea - Attohwa	Magnus Pole Caller's Seal: Head Goetia Seal: Head Aoidos' Seal: Head Cirque Seal: Head
Quest NMs: None Mission NMs: Lioumere (Promathia Mission - Road Forks) Battlefield NMs: Armored Hunter (ENM - Sheep in Antlion's Clothing), Shrewd Hunter (ENM - Sheep in Antlion's Clothing), Swift Hunter (ENM - Sheep in Antlion's Clothing), Tuchulcha (ENM - Sheep in Antlion's Clothing) Dynamis NMs: Nightmare Antlion (Dynamis - Tavnazia) Other NMs: Executioner Antlion (Spawned by Feeler Antlion), Ambuscader Antlion (Spawned by Myrmecoleon)

Monsters in Family

Name	Level	Zone
Tracer Antlion	38-40	Attohwa Chasm
Burrow Antlion	41-44	Attohwa Chasm
Hunter Antlion	45-46	Attohwa Chasm
Pit Antlion	49-51	Attohwa Chasm
Trench Antlion	70-71	Attohwa Chasm
Tracker Antlion	70-73	Attohwa Chasm
Cave Antlion	77-79	Attohwa Chasm
Funnel Antlion		Abyssea - Attohwa

Historical Background

Antlion are a real family of insects (Myrmeleontidae). They are known for their unique life cycle. While the adults are pollen and nectar feeders, the larvae feed on other insects, most notably ants. The adults are winged insects with dull brown & black bodies with a fly/moth-like head and clubbed antennae, but the larvae have a plump thorax and a very different head, very ant-like, with very large mandibles. The scary-looking larvae reside in sandy soils and dig up a cone-shaped sand pit, where they lay in wait at the bottom, hidden beneath the sand. The gradient is steep and the soil texture consists of very loose particles, making it precarious for any creature that tries to climb out of it (it's easy to lose footing and fall back to the bottom of the pit). The antlion ambushes anything that falls into its pit. They do not consume the prey. They suck the vital fluids out of it with their mandibles, which are hollow. Once finished, they toss the husk out of the pit and set up the trap again. They exist across Europe and Asia (not just in deserts, but anywhere sandy soil can be found).

The monster design for the Antlions in the original, 8-bit version of Final Fantasy II closely resembles the actual appearance of Antlions.

It should be noted, in Medieval bestiaries, a creature called the Mermecolion appeared. Its name meant "ant-lion", only it was an ant with the head of a lion.