[An image of a black ant walking. Photo Credit to Unsplash]

A new blue ant species has been discovered in the Siang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh in the Eastern Himalayas this May.

This marks the first new species in its genus to be discovered in the Indian subcontinent in 121 years.

Researchers from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) unearthed the species during one of their “Siang Expedition” trips.

The Siang Expedition is a project undertaken by ATREE to attempt to accurately resurvey and document the biodiversity of the Siang region, as well as to map important areas of the valley.

“While exploring a tree about three meters up in the steep cattle track in the remote Yingku village one evening, something sparkled in the twilight,” recounted Dr. Dharma Rajan Priyadarshan, who was part of the discovery team.

“With the dim light available, two insects were sucked into an aspirator.” — a kind of suction device — “To our surprise, we later found they were ants,” he added on.

The newly discovered ant species has been officially named Paraparatrechina neela.

This species belongs to the ant genus Paraparatrechina, known for its small size and preference for warmer climates.

The name “neela,” meaning blue in several Indian languages, was chosen for the ant’s distinctive metallic blue body, which is a rare phenomenon among both animals and plants.

Paraparatrechina neela boasts a mostly metallic blue body, except for its antennae, mandibles, and legs.

The blue coloration is a rare phenomenon among all animals and plants, with less than 1 percent of the animal kingdom being considered the shade and less than 10 percent of flowering plants naturally producing blue flowers.

Most ants known to date are either yellow, black or red, and even Nothomyrmecia — often called the dinosaur ant or the down ant —, dubbed the rarest species, is a light yellowish-brown.

Researchers are keen to understand the evolutionary significance of the blue pigment and its role in the species’ survival, communication, and camouflage.

The ATREE team has stated following the discovery that “delving into” the new ant species and the inquiries it poses “presents an exciting avenue for research.”

Aside from its unique color, Paraparatrechina neela is estimated to be shy of 2 millimeters in length, at the smaller end of the average size, which ranges from about 2 millimeters to 25 millimeters.

The species also possesses a subtriangular head and triangle shaped mouthpart — also called a mandible — with five teeth, along with a pair of large eyes.

A variety of studies over the years have consistently observed and acknowledged the unparalleled biodiversity of the northeastern Indian area.

However, “This very richness … faces unprecedented threats. Large-scale infrastructure projects like dams, highways, and military installations, along with climate change, are rapidly altering the valley,” Dr. Dharma cautioned.

The new blue ant species is a testament to the rich and abundant biodiversity of the Siang Valley that must be preserved for future generations.