A new study recently published in the ZooKeys journal describes a new subterranean ant species named Leptanilla voldemort - an ant with a pale coloration, slender body structure, spiny legs, and long, sharp mandibles.
Dr. Mark Wong from the University of Western Australia’s School of Biological Sciences explained the ant's name was given as an homage to the character of the wizard, Lord Voldemort, portrayed as the terrifying antagonist in the successful book and movie series Harry Potter.
“The species epithet pays tribute to the antagonist in the Harry Potter book series, Lord Voldemort, a terrifying wizard who, like the new ant, is slender, pale, and thrives in darkness,” Dr. Wong explained.
The ant was discovered in an ecological survey documenting subterranean animals in the Pilbara - a large geographic region in northwestern Australia - known for its ancient rock formations, mountain ranges with cliffs and chasms, red soil, vast expanses of iron-rich soils, and the biological diversity of its thriving subterranean wildlife.
"Only two specimens of the new ant species were found, and both were collected in a net lowered down a 25-meter drill hole and retrieved by scraping against the hole's inner surface," Dr. Wong said talking about the newly discovered species.
There are over 14,000 ant species worldwide, but only about 60 of them belong to the Leptanilla genus. "Unlike most ants, species of Leptanilla live in small colonies, usually comprising a queen and only a hundred or so workers, and nest and forage exclusively underground," said Dr. Wong.
He added these subterranean species adapt to life in darkness, making them devoid of pigment. Additionally, their body dimensions are extremely tiny, between one to two millimeters, so they aren’t much larger than a grain of sand - allowing them to move underground effortlessly.
Australia boasts a diverse range of ant species, with an estimated number ranging from 1,300 to over 5,000 species thriving on the continent. Nevertheless, the Leptanilla voldemort species is only the second species of this ant genus discovered in Australia.
Due to their elusive nature, pale coloration, and unique subterranean habitats, finding Leptanilla species poses a challenge even for specialized ant researchers, leaving much of their biology shrouded in mystery.
“From what we know from the few observations of other Leptanilla species and the highly specialized, sharp mandibles of L. Voldemort, this new species is almost surely a predator, a fearsome hunter in the dark," Dr. Wong explained.
"While the exact prey of L. voldemort remains unclear, other Leptanilla species are known to use their sharp jaws and powerful stings to immobilize soil-dwelling centipedes much larger than themselves, before carrying their larvae over to feed on the carcass.”