Ant Lion Pit in Dappled Sand Near Nice

Bright midmorning light falls through scattered oak leaves, casting shifting patches of gold and deep green across a slope of fine, pale sand. The circular depression of an ant lion pit sits centered in the foreground, its conical walls marked by tiny, spiraling ridges where grains have slipped. Small, dry leaves skitter across the surface, caught in a sudden gust that rustles the overhead canopy. The sand texture appears loose and powdery, against the sharp, geometric precision of the trap. Shadows from the leaves stretch long and thin across the pit's rim, defining the depth of the cavity. One fallen leaf rests motionless on the far edge, caught in the stillness of the predator's waiting stance.