• A 113-million-year-old 'hell ant' fossil, Vulcanidris cratensis, was discovered in Brazil, making it the oldest known ant fossil.
• The fossil's unique scythe-like jaws and other anatomical features provide insight into the predatory strategies and early evolution of ants.
• The discovery suggests that hell ants were more widespread across the Earth during the Cretaceous period than previously understood.

A fossil of a 'hell ant,' named Vulcanidris cratensis, dating back 113 million years, has been discovered in Brazil. This remarkable find, uncovered in the Crato Formation, represents the oldest known ant fossil, pushing back the timeline for ant evolution. The hell ant, characterized by its bizarre predatory adaptations, offers scientists new insights into the early evolution and distribution of ants during the Cretaceous period. The discovery highlights the importance of examining existing fossil collections and the underexplored fossil insect fauna.

• What: Discovery of a 113-million-year-old 'hell ant' fossil, Vulcanidris cratensis, in Brazil, the oldest known ant fossil.
• Who: Anderson Lepeco (entomologist, Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo), researchers at the University of São Paulo’s Museum of Zoology, Phil Barden (associate professor, New Jersey Institute of Technology)
• When: Fossil dates back 113 million years (Cretaceous period); discovery in September 2024; study published in Current Biology on Thursday.
• Where: Crato Formation, northeastern Brazil; Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo; fossils previously found in France and Myanmar.

The discovery of Vulcanidris cratensis significantly impacts our understanding of ant evolution and biogeography. The fossil's age pushes back the known timeline for ants and suggests a wider distribution of hell ants during the Cretaceous period. The unique predatory adaptations of this ancient ant shed light on the evolutionary pressures that shaped early ant lineages. The fact that the fossil was found in rock rather than amber is also noteworthy, expanding the range of fossil preservation contexts for these insects. The similarities between this fossil and those found in Myanmar suggest that ants were capable of dispersing across long distances during their evolutionary history. This adds weight to the theory of how lifeforms developed during Earth's supercontinent phase.

I was just shocked to see that weird projection in front of this (insect’s) head.

Finding such an anatomically specialized ant from 113 million years ago challenges our assumptions about how quickly these insects developed complex adaptations.

The discovery of Vulcanidris cratensis represents a significant milestone in understanding ant evolution. This 113-million-year-old fossil provides crucial insights into the early diversification, predatory strategies, and global distribution of ants during the Cretaceous period. Ongoing research and analysis of this and other fossil specimens will further refine our understanding of the evolutionary history of these ubiquitous insects. It highlights that museums can still yield significant discoveries through careful examination of existing collections.