Dinosaur-era 'vampire' ant with metal spike on head found

US-based scientists have discovered an extinct genus of 'hell ant', a group with spiked metallised mouthparts used for drinking the blood of its prey. The 98-million-year old amber specimen reveals the jaws were surrounded by trigger hairs, similar to those used by trap-jaw ants. Further, the metal-reinforced horn-like appendage was probably used to clamp down on its prey, said researchers.