Ancient 'hell ant' fossil found in Brazil rewrites ant history
Scientists have identified the oldest known ant, belonging to the extinct subfamily Haidomyrmecinae, also known as "hell ants," which primarily inhabited the Latin American region. "What makes this discovery particularly interesting is that it belongs to the extinct 'hell ant,' known for their bizarre predatory adaptations," said Anderson Lepeco from the Zoology Museum of the University of São Paulo. This finding offers new insights into the evolution of these unique insects.
The ancient ant, which existed over 113 million years ago, was discovered in Brazil. The fossil, unearthed in limestone, belongs to the extinct subfamily Haidomyrmecinae, known as "hell ants." These insects were distinctive for their vertically aligned mandibles, which were used to capture prey.
The newly discovered species, named Vulcanidris cratensis, is the first known representative of "hell ants" found on the South American continent. Discovering such a highly specialized ant challenges our previous assumptions about the pace at which these insects developed complex adaptations.
The research team, led by Anderson Lepeco from the University of São Paulo's Zoology Museum, used micro-CT technology to examine the fossil. The studies revealed that V. cratensis is closely related to the species Aquilomyrmex huangi, known from Myanmar amber.
The discovery provides fresh insights into how this remarkable group of insects evolved. The intricate body structure of these ancient ants suggests that even 113 million years ago, they had already developed advanced predatory strategies that were quite different from those of contemporary species.
"Hell ants" might have been one of the initial evolutionary lines to branch off from the rest of the ants. Their presence in a new region and at such an early geological period provides valuable information on the evolution of these insects.
