Ant That Must Not Be Named: Newly discovered species resembles Harry Potter villain
The Leptanilla voldemort use their sharp jaws and powerful stings to immobilize soil-dwelling centipedes.
In the sunbaked Australian outback, this creature—with a “slender build, spindly legs, and long, sharp mandibles”—lives deep underground. If the description of this pale, scrawny insect reminds you of a popular villain that terrorized you (and your favorite kid wizard) during your pre-teen forays into Hogwarts, you wouldn’t be too far off.
Leptanilla voldemort, a new ant species of the elusive Leptanilla genus, has been discovered in the Pilbara region of northwestern Australia. Scientists from the University of Western Australia and a representative of Bennelongia Environmental Consultants write about the discovery in the journal ZooKeys: “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.”
Leptanilla voldemort was discovered during an ecological survey whose main goal was to learn more about creatures living underground in the arid Pilbara region. Only two specimens were found, both of which were gathered using a specialized method called ‘subterranean scraping,’ where a net was lowered down a 25-meter drill hole and expertly maneuvered to retrieve the insects while making contact with the inner surface of the hole.
Efficient underground predators
“Leptanilla voldemort is almost surely a predator, a fearsome hunter in the dark. This is backed up by what we know from the few observations of specialized hunting behaviors in other Leptanilla ant species,” said Dr Wong, lead author of the study. He also described how they use their sharp jaws and powerful stings to immobilise soil-dwelling centipedes. Then they carry their larvae over to feed on the carcass.
The small, underground colonies of this species consists only of a queen and around a hundred workers. The latter are blind and have a pale, ghostly colouring. Their size? Not much larger than a grain of sand.
Only the second Leptanilla species to be discovered thus far in Australia
It is estimated that Australia is home from 1,300 to over 5,000 ant species. However, L. voldemort is only the second Leptanilla species discovered on the continent. The first, Leptanilla swani, was found under a rock in 1931 and has been rarely seen since then.
The Pilbara region is known for its unique underground ecosystems. Its geological history dates back billions of years, making it one of the oldest land surfaces of the world. It is home to many unique life forms, and the discovery of Leptanilla voldemort underscores the importance of exploring and conserving biodiversity in remote and unique environments such as the Pilbara.
Ants have an important role in the environment—they turn and aerate the soil, and, as predators, they regulate prey populations to maintain ecological balance within underground food webs.
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