Researchers in the Pilbara region have conjured up a magical discovery — a new ant species named after the infamous Harry Potter villain, Lord Voldemort. 

This tiny terror, now officially known as Leptanilla voldemort, was uncovered by Mark Wong from the University of Western Australia. With its ghostly, pale appearance, due to living in the darkness, and sinisterly slender body, this ant shares a striking resemblance to the Dark Lord himself.

“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 is slender and it’s got sharp fangs, an almost  villainous appearance. 

Dr Wong, a self-proclaimed Potterhead, almost called it “the ant who must not be named”. The ant’s creepy characteristics and elusive nature fit perfectly with the dark sorcerer’s lore, making it a fitting homage.

In the magical realm of biology, naming creatures after pop culture icons is not uncommon. In fact, other creatures have Harry Potter-inspired names, including  a spider named Gryffindor, a crab called Severus Snape, and a wasp christened Lucius Malfoy. However, this sinister ant marks the first species named after Voldemort.

Leptanilla ants are incredibly rare, with only about 60 known species worldwide. The discovery of L. voldemort is just the second instance of Leptanilla ants found in Australia. Like its namesake, the Voldemort ant is a ruthless, specialised hunter, lurking in the shadows beneath the earth’s surface.


Leptanilla voldemort, cover and, above, Lord Voldemort played by Ralph Fiennes in Harry Potter. Pictures: Wikimedia Commons and Wikipedia. Main picture: Leptanilla voldemort: A thin body and spindly antennae and legs offered the inspiration for the new species’ name. Credit: Mark K. L. Wong, Jane M. McRae