doodlebug
noun
doo·dle·bug
ˈdü-dᵊl-ˌbəg 
1
: the larva of an ant lion
also
: any of several other insects
2
: a device (such as a divining rod) used in attempting to locate underground gas, water, oil, or ores
3
Examples of doodlebug in a Sentence
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The British got better at shooting down the doodlebugs from both air and ground.
—
David Edmonds,
Foreign Affairs,
18 Dec. 2013
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David Edmonds,
Foreign Affairs,
18 Dec. 2013
Cite this Entry
“Doodlebug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doodlebug. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
doodlebug
noun
doo·dle·bug
ˈdüd-ᵊl-ˌbəg
: the larva of an ant lion
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