This is one of the largest european ant lions. It flies June - September, often at dusk, and is attracted to lights. I can vouch for this as one flew into my living room one evening.
The larva of this species lives in sand (often on coastal dunes), but does not build a pit. I live two hours drive from the coast in SW France, but my garden, though mainly very heavy clay, has seams of sand.
philomel
The larva of this species lives in sand (often on coastal dunes), but does not build a pit. I live two hours drive from the coast in SW France, but my garden, though mainly very heavy clay, has seams of sand.