113-million-year-old ‘hell ant’ is the oldest ever discovered, scientists say

An ignored fossil in a Brazilian museum has now been recognized as the oldest recognized ant specimen, courting again 113 million years. This discovery has been revealed in the journal Current Biology.
The fossil, named Vulcanidris Cratensis, was reportedly present in the Crato Formation of northeastern Brazil, a website which is nicely famend for its well-preserved fossils. Anderson Lepeco, a researcher at the Museum of Zoology of the University of São Paulo, stumbled upon the specimen in September 2024 whereas inspecting the museum’s assortment. “I was just shocked to see that weird projection in front of this (insect’s) head,” Lepeco instructed CNN.
This historical ant belongs to the extinct subfamily Haidomyrmecinae, generally known as “hell ants.” As per studies, these ants are characterised by their scythe-like jaws, which served as a approach to impale a prey. Unlike the earlier hell ant fossils present in Myanmar, this one was preserved in rock which made it a uncommon discover.

Credit: X/@Extinct_AnimaIs

The discovery means that ants had been already widespread throughout the early Cretaceous interval. Phil Barden, an affiliate professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology who research insect evolution, commented on the significance of the discover. “This new find now represents the oldest ant known; it extends the known fossil record for ants by about ten million years,” Barden stated through electronic mail to CNN.
Micro-computed tomography imaging revealed that Vulcanidris cratensis had anatomical options linking it to wasps, indicating a standard ancestry. Its wings had extra veins than these of recent ants, and its jaws projected ahead from close to the eyes, functioning like a “forklift” to seize prey, based on Lepeco.

Credit: X/@Extinct_AnimaIs

The fossil’s preservation in rock, somewhat than amber, supplies a novel alternative to review the morphology of early ants. This discovery pushes the timeline of evolution of ant.
In the fashionable world, ants are amongst the most plentiful bugs on Earth, discovered on each continent besides Antarctica. However, they advanced roughly 145 million years in the past, diverging from ancestors shared with wasps and bees.
The discovery of Vulcanidris Cratensis sheds gentle on the early diversification of ants and their function throughout the age of dinosaurs. It emphasizes the significance of museum collections in uncovering important paleontological findings.