Lacewing larvae (feeding)

I found this tiny whatsit on my garden gate. It appeared to be eating another insect (in a sucking fashion). The ant (second picture) and one other insect kept running around this thing and toward me when I got too close. Whenever the ant approached, the [Lacewing larvae] would turn itself on its side with its back was to the ant. The ant would immediately retreat so am guessing those little hairs on it's back (sorta seen in the first picture) are stiff and needle-like. Thank you, Juan DiTrani, for identifying this as a Lacewing larvae.