Antlions

General Information

• System: Vermin
• Weaknesses: Wind
• Immune:

Special Attacks

Sandpit - Single target Bind
Sandstorm - AoE Blind
Pit Ambush -
Venom spray - Cone Attack Poison (15/tic)
Mandibular Bite - Single target Damage

Notorious Monsters in Family

Alastor Antlion

Ambusher Antlion

Armored Hunter

Executioner Antlion

Feeler Antlion

Lioumere

Shrewd Hunter

Swift Hunter

Tuchulcha

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.