'Hell ant' with scythe-like jaws may be oldest ant fossil ever discovered
undefined 29, 2025
Scientists have identified the oldest known ant fossil — a 113-million-year-old “hell ant” discovered in northeastern Brazil — marking a major breakthrough in our understanding of ant evolution. Named Vulcanidris cratensis, the ancient insect had scythe-like jaws that likely helped it trap prey, revealing that complex predatory features evolved early in ant history. Preserved in limestone rather than amber, this fossil predates previously known ant specimens and shows that ants were already globally distributed far earlier than assumed. The discovery underscores both the speed of early insect evolution and the value of overlooked museum collections.
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