'Ghostly’ ant species discovered in Australia named after this infamous Harry Potter character

In Australia's hot Pilbara region, researchers have found a mysterious new ant species called Leptanilla voldemort, or L. voldemort for short. It's a pale ant with thin legs and long, sharp mandibles.

The name pays tribute to the Harry Potter series' dark wizard, Lord Voldemort, reflecting the ant's ghostly appearance and the underground environment it comes from.

DrMark Wong from the University of Western Australia and Jane McRae from Bennelongia Environmental Consultants describe this new species in a paper published in ZooKeys.

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Researchers found Leptanilla voldemort during a study to document underground animals in Australia's dry Pilbara region. They only found two of these strange ants.

They caught them using a net lowered down a 25-metredrill hole and retrieved them by scraping against the hole's inner surface. This technique, called 'subterranean scraping,' is usedfor collecting underground creatures.

Distinctive traits and theories

L voldemort stands out among other Leptanilla ants with its exceptionally slim body, along with long, thin antennae and legs.

Its discovery in a 25-metre-deep drill hole has intrigued experts, leading to speculation about its habitat. Some wonder if it lives in soil like other Leptanilla species or if it inhabits different underground spaces, such as air-filled gaps and cracks in deeper rock layers.

However, the ant's long, sharp jaws leave little doubt about its capabilities.

The specific prey of Lvoldemort remains unknown. However, various other underground invertebrates, such as centipedes, beetles, and flies, were discovered in the same location.

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There are over 14,000 ant species worldwide, but only about 60 are part of the mysterious Leptanilla group. Unlike most ants, all Leptanilla species live underground, with small colonies usually made up of a queen and around a hundred workers. To survive in the dark, Leptanilla ants are blind and colourless.

(With inputs from agencies)