This species

Ant

is Bright metallic blue!

By iastoppers.in

Researchers have recently discovered a new ant species, named Paraparatrechina neela, with a striking bright metallic blue hue and a size of just 2 mm.

This discovery was made while retracing the steps of the century-old 'Abhor expedition', which mixed scientific exploration with a punitive military campaign under British rule in 1911-1912.

The original Abhor expedition faced harsh weather, difficult terrain, and local resistance while documenting the region’s natural history.

The original Abhor expedition faced harsh weather, difficult terrain, and local resistance while documenting the region’s natural history.

The discovery occurred in Arunachal Pradesh’s remote Siang Valley, derived from the Siang River, part of the Brahmaputra River system.

The researchers found the new species while surveying a tree hole about 10 feet up a steep cattle track in Yinku village during twilight.

This is the first addition to the Paraparatrechina genus in 121 years, marking a significant milestone in entomological research.

The rediscovery expedition aimed to document the extensive biodiversity of the valley, continuing the scientific legacy of the original 1911-1912 expedition.