[1] The generic name means "from Mars" and was given due to its unusual morphology, and the species epithet heureka indicates the surprising discovery.

The genus name, then, refers to the planet Mars, alluding to the strange characteristics that seem to come from nowhere; the species epithet is from Ancient Greek ηὕρηκα "I found it", echoing Archimedes' famous exclamation, meant to epitomize the troubles involved in the rediscovery of the species after the first specimen discovered in a soil sample was lost.

[2] Two specimens were first discovered by Manfred Verhaagh of the Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde in Karlsruhe, Germany, in 2000, but they were damaged.

The ants, though, lack compound eyes, are pale in colour, and lead a subterranean life, preying on small litter organisms.

[2] Based on the morphology, the authors suggested the ants lead an underground life, possibly foraging on the surface during the night.