Nightmarish "supersoldier" ants with huge heads and jaws have been created by activating ancient genes that trigger their development.

Scientists believe the monster ants may be a genetic throwback to an ancestor that lived millions of years ago.

A supersoldier ant and an ordinary, run of the mill, counterpart.

Supersoldier ants can occur naturally in the wild, but only rarely.

In the deserts of America and Mexico, their job is to protect the colony from raids by invading army ants. The supersoldiers use their enormous heads to block the nest entrance and attack any enemy ants that get too close.