Researchers at The University of Western Australia have identified a new species of ant, which they have named after the notorious villain from the Harry Potter series, Lord Voldemort.
Dubbed Leptanilla voldemort, this pale, slender ant exhibits spindly legs and long, sharp mandibles, traits that bring to mind the ghostly appearance of its namesake.
The discovery, detailed in a paper published in the journal Zookeys, was made during an ecological survey aimed at cataloging subterranean wildlife in the arid Pilbara region of northern Western Australia.
Dr. Mark Wong, a Forrest Fellow at UWA’s School of Biological Sciences, led the research team. The team managed to collect only two specimens of this elusive ant. They used a unique method involving a net that was lowered down a 25-meter drill hole, which scraped against the hole’s inner surface to capture the ants.
Leptanilla voldemort belongs to the genus Leptanilla, which comprises over 60 known species of ants. These ants are distinctive for their subterranean lifestyle, small colony size, and specialized predatory habits.
Unlike most ants that build visible nests and forage above ground, Leptanilla ants live in darkness, forming small colonies typically consisting of a queen and around a hundred workers.
These ants are blind, lack pigmentation, and are extremely small—measuring just one to two millimeters in length, roughly the size of a grain of sand.
Dr. Wong explained that the adaptation of Leptanilla ants to life underground allows them to navigate through soil effortlessly. While the exact diet of L. voldemort is yet to be determined, the species is likely a formidable predator.
This assumption is based on observations of other Leptanilla species, which utilize their sharp mandibles and potent stings to immobilize and predate on soil-dwelling centipedes, which are significantly larger. The prey is then used to nourish their larvae.
Australia is recognized for its rich ant diversity, which is among the highest in the world, with estimates ranging from 1,300 to over 5,000 species. However, L. voldemort is only the second species of the Leptanilla genus to be found on the continent.
This discovery adds significant knowledge to the understanding of Australia’s biodiversity and highlights the intricate ecosystem existing beneath the surface in one of the planet’s most biologically diverse regions.
The naming of the new ant species after a fictional character like Lord Voldemort underscores the unique characteristics of the ant, linking its ghostly, shadowy demeanor to that of the dark wizard.
This creative naming also helps draw public attention and interest towards the often-overlooked world of subterranean biodiversity.
The research findings can be found in ZooKeys.
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