Paraparatrechina neela

• 04 Jun 2024

In June 2024, researchers discovered a fascinating new ant species, Paraparatrechina neela, from the remote Eastern Himalayas, adding to the region's rich biodiversity.

• Belonging to the rare genus Paraparatrechina, this blue-coloured insect is the first addition to the genus from the Indian subcontinent in over 121 years.
• The discovery was made by entomologists during an expedition to Siang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Paraparatrechina neela is a tiny ant, less than 2mm in length, with a predominantly metallic blue body and distinct features like large eyes and a triangular mouthpart.
• Blue colouration is relatively rare in ants, with only a few of the 16,724 known species exhibiting partial blue hues or iridescence.
• The expedition aimed to resurvey and document the biodiversity of the Siang Valley, a region facing unprecedented threats from large-scale infrastructure projects and climate change.