2MM Bright Metallic Blue Ant Discovered in India Identified as New Species

A new species of blue ant was discovered in a remote area in Indonesia.

New Blue Ant Species Discovered in India

In a new study, Indian researchers documented the discovery of a new ant species from Arunachal Pradesh's remote Siang Valley while surveying the area to document a century-old scientific expedition. The rare find was a bright metallic blue ant about 2 millimeters long. It has large eyes and a sub-triangular head and mouth with five teeth. However, what captivated the researchers was its metallic-blue hue, rare among insects, especially ants.

"While blue color is commonly observed in a few insects like butterflies, beetles, bees, and wasps, it is relatively rare in ants. Of the 16,724 known species and sub-species of ants worldwide, only a few exhibit blue coloration or iridescence," the researchers said.

Rather than being caused by pigments, it is frequently formed in insects using biological photonic nanostructures, which provide structural colors. Does it aid in camouflage, communication, or other ecological interactions? It will be a fascinating field of study.

The ant known by its new name, Paraparatrechina neela, got its name from the distinctive blue hue of the ant. More than 121 years had passed since the last addition to the Paraparatrechina genus was produced when this amazing find was made. One evening in the distant Yinku town, we examined a tree hole about ten feet up in a steep cattle route when we noticed something ignited in the dusk. Two insects were drawn into an aspirator using the little available light.

The researchers remarked, "We later discovered they were ants, which surprised us."

To characterize the amazing new species, entomologists Dr. Priyadarsanan Dharma Rajan and Sahanashree R from Bengaluru's Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) worked with Aswaj Punnath from the University of Florida.

With funding provided by the National Geographic Society through an expedition grant for wildlife conservation, ATREE researchers decided to launch a series of trips, known as the "Siang Expedition," to re-survey and record this biodiversity. Entomologists have found over 40 new insect species, six new genera, and a new subfamily thus far.

The valley, tucked away in a Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, is incredibly diverse, with a large portion still undiscovered. The researchers did, however, voice alarm over yet unseen threats that currently jeopardize this ecological and cultural diversity.

The valley is changing quickly due to large-scale infrastructure projects like highways, dams, military sites, and climate change. According to senior fellow Rajan, the paper's corresponding author, the impact goes beyond the valley itself because these mountains are essential to maintaining their distinct ecosystems and the welfare of millions of downstream people.

Fossilized Spider Pretends To Be an Ant

Paleobiologist George Poinar Junior, who has a courtesy appointment at the Oregon State University College of Science, previously gave a preliminary report on a newly discovered species of Myrmarachne colombiana, a mimicking spider that resembles ants.

As its name suggests, the new species was discovered in Colombia, South America, and housed in a block of copal resin. Fossils of copal plants can be up to three million years old. The specimen's actual age cannot be determined since dating the resin would endanger the fragile spider remains.

"Ants are particularly good creatures for spiders to pretend to be [because] many animals find ants distasteful or dangerous to eat," Poinar explained.

Ants are vicious in self-defense, possess stinging and powerful teeth, and can rally dozens of other nestmates to their cause.

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