Overview

Myths, as distinguished from folklore, typically serve to explain a mysterious natural phenomenon such as the origin of the world, the cycle of agricultural fertility, or death. Much has been written about mythical (fictitious) "ant-lions" [see our section Bestiary: Creatures of Myth and Psyche], but information on the mythology of true antlions is relatively scarce. Interestingly, all three of the antlion myths described here involve the adult antlion, not the larva.

Ripener fertility myth (Navajo)

'Anlt'áni·, or "ripener" ("the particular one which causes maturing or ripening"), is the name given to certain insects by the Navajo, a Native American people now living in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah (USA). "Ripener" insects typically include lacewing flies and tree crickets, but also occasionally antlions [presumably the adult form]. (Wyman and Bailey 1964, p. 29).

According to Navajo mythology, the "ripener" [inaccurately rendered as "Cornbeetle" by earlier writers] plays a role in ripening corn, and the sound made by these insects is said to be indicative of this power. Moreover, the power of voice-giving is attributed to Cornbeetle Girl for she gave voices to the first people created from corn. Since lacewings are "voiceless," the Navajo doubtless derived these sound associations from the call of the "big ripeners" or tree crickets which are notorious insect "musicians" (Wyman and Bailey 1964, p. 131-132).

In the Enemyway legend the Cornbeetle represents the corn people who made war on Taos and also exemplifies all vegetation restored by the ceremonial. The happy functions of Cornbeetle Girl are further emphasized by including her in the group of small birds, harbingers of happiness. Mythologically the "ripener" becomes a female helper of deity and man, Cornbeetle Girl, frequently paired with Pollen Boy. The pair symbolize female and male generative power and figure significantly in Blessingway rites which are performed to invoke positive blessings in connection with a variety of circumstances or activities (Wyman and Bailey 1964, p. 132).

Figure 1. Representations of Cornbeetle ("Ripener") in sandpaintings created for the Blessingway ceremonial. From Mariana Lake (left) and Tohatchi (right), New Mexico.

The associations of the "ripener" are further symbolized by representing Cornbeetle (fig. 1) in drypaintings with a yellow body or on a yellow field, the color of pollen. Moreover, pollen from corn which has a "ripener" on it or corn pollen in which a living "ripener" has been placed temporarily is thought to be especially efficacious for prayer, offerings, or other purposes. Thus corn, the symbol of fertility and life, Cornbeetle Girl, Pollen Boy, and pollen itself are tied together in Blessingway procedure and myth which is fundamental for well-being throughout the life cycle (Wyman and Bailey 1964, p. 132).

Dragonfly/antlion demon myth (Navajo)

The Navajo word táni·l'ái means "which is spread out on water" and is used as the name for dragonflies (fig. 2), damselflies and antlions. In Navajo mythology, táni·l'ái were harmful to man until subdued by Holy Man. As symbols of water they are frequently depicted around representations of pools in the center of sandpaintings (Wyman and Bailey 1964, p. 52).

Figure 2. A representation of Dragonfly in a sandpainting created for the Male Shootingway ceremonial. From Chinlee, Arizona.

Antlion demon myth (Ashaninka)

The Ashaninka (or Campa) are one of many indigenous peoples who inhabit the Amazon basin of eastern Perú. Some Ashaninka myths attribute demonic qualities to animals, including antlions:

The demons of the Campa universe are real and imaginary beings that embody a combination of repulsion and dangerousness. [. . .] Anything that can cause physical harm to humans is a demon. For example, jaguars and blood-sucking bats are considered demons. Also, any [creature] that is extraordinarily thin, recalling the weight loss due to serious illnesses, is a demon. Consequently the extremely thin shienti (adult antlion) is a demon. Moreover, anything that has the khaki color of putrefaction—the color that the Campa call Kamara (or kamarari)—is a demon. Owing to this fact, khaki-colored hummingbirds (tsiisanti) and butterflies (maatsarantsi) are demons. (Weiss 1980, p. 63. Original in Spanish; translation by the editor.)