BRAZIL — April 28, 2025 — Scientists have found a remarkably well-preserved 113-million-year-old fossil of a “hell ant” in Brazil. This new discovery provides crucial insights into the earliest evolution of ants. The hell ant, named * Vulcanidris cratensis *, belonged to an extinct subfamily and possessed unique predatory adaptations, with jaws that moved forward, unlike modern ants.The discovery challenges previous assumptions about the speed with which these prehistoric insects developed sophisticated predatory strategies. This remarkable discovery is set to reshape our understanding of ant evolution.
Fossilized Hell Ant Lives Up to Its Name: A 113-Million-Year-old Predator
ants, those ubiquitous crawlers and tunnelers, inhabit nearly every landmass on Earth, save for Antarctica and a few remote islands.New research indicates their global presence dates back further than previously believed.
Earliest Ant Fossil Discovered
our team has discovered a new fossil ant species representing the earliest undisputable geological record of ants, says Anderson Lepeco, from the Museum of Zoology of the University of São Paulo in Brazil.
Lepeco and his team unearthed the 113-million-year-old fossil in the Crato Formation of northeastern Brazil.
Vulcanidris cratensis: A Hell Ant Ancestor
The newly identified species, named Vulcanidris cratensis, belonged to the extinct subfamily Haidomyrmecinae, according to the journal Current Biology.
What makes this discovery especially captivating is that it belongs to the extinct ‘hell ant,’ known for their bizarre predatory adaptations.
Anderson Lepeco
Global Spread and diversification
This finding suggests that hell ants were among the earliest ant groups to diversify and spread globally, repeatedly crossing Cretaceous landmasses.
Unique Feeding Apparatus
even though there have been hell ants described from amber, this was the first time we could visualise this in a rock fossil, Lepeco notes.
The team was particularly surprised by the species’ unique feeding apparatus.
Unlike modern ants with laterally moving jaws, Vulcanidris cratensis possessed jaws that moved forward to grasp prey.
Challenging Evolutionary Assumptions
Finding such an anatomically specialised ant from 113 million years ago challenges our assumptions about how quickly these insects developed complex adaptations, Lepeco explains.
The intricate morphology suggests that even these earliest ants had already evolved sophisticated predatory strategies significantly different from their modern counterparts.
Did You Know?
Hell ants are characterized by their downward-pointing mandibles and often possess horn-like extensions on their heads.
FAQ About Hell Ants
What are hell ants?
Hell ants are an extinct group of ants known for their unique, often bizarre, predatory adaptations.
How old is the newly discovered fossil?
the fossil is approximately 113 million years old.
Where was the fossil discovered?
The fossil was found in the Crato Formation in northeastern Brazil.
What is unique about this hell ant species?
This species had jaws that moved in a forward motion, unlike modern ants.