Two new species of ants discovered in Mizoram

AIZAWL: Two new species of small-colony-forming ants have been discovered in Mizoram by zoologists from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment (ATREE).

According to researchers, the discovery marks the first record of the Myrmecina genus in the state.

Reportedly, this species of ants mostly live in hidden habitats like under stones, decaying wood, and leaf litters.

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A team of scientists led by Dr. Dharma Rajan Priyadarshan discovered the presence of the two distinct species while sorting ant specimens from the pitful and wrinkle traps they laid out in the Phawngpui National Park and the Dampa Tiger Reserve.

One of the species with yellow-colored hairy bodies has been named Myrmecina bawai.

While the other one has been named as ‘M.Bawai’, after Kamaljit S. Bawa, an ecologist and founder of ATREE.

Apart from having long and shiny legs, this species has small eyes with erect hair on different body parts.

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