Discover the ‘Hell Ant’: The Oldest Ant Species Unearthed—Millions of Years Ahead of Its Time!

An exciting discovery has been made in Brazil: a 113-million-year-old "hell ant," now the oldest ant specimen known to science. This winged ant, named Vulcanidris cratensis, reveals that ants have been around far longer than previously thought—about 14 million years longer. It also marks the first confirmed evidence of ants in South America during the Cretaceous period, expanding the ant record on the continent by over 60 million years.

The oldest ants, known from amber deposits, date back to 99 million years. Researchers, including Anderson Lepeco from the University of São Paulo, had hoped to find older species among fossils housed in Brazil’s Museum of Zoology. When Lepeco examined the preserved winged ant in limestone from Brazil’s Crato Konservat-Lagerstätte geological formation, he made an astonishing discovery. He used micro-computed tomography to uncover features like its impressive scythe-like jaws. Lepeco expressed his excitement, saying he couldn’t contain his joy: "I was just shocked."

Hell ants had unique jaws that moved upward and could snap shut vertically, setting them apart from modern ants. This adaptation likely helped them catch and hold onto prey. Experts have noted that the absence of older ant fossils previously raised the question of whether they simply hadn’t been found or if they hadn’t existed.

This new find, with some wasp-like traits, gives us insight into ant evolution. It showcases characteristics that did not survive the mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs around 66 million years ago. After that, ants began to evolve into the forms we recognize today.

Interestingly, recent trends show how social media users are fascinated by such paleontological discoveries. Many people are sharing their excitement online, often posting about the implications of this find on our understanding of insect history.

For further reading, you can check the detailed study published in Current Biology and insights from sources like CNN and Live Science.

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