Parasyscia ganeshaiahi

The type (and only known) specimen of this species was collected from the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary at an elevation of 1400 m above sea level. The collection site has a canopy cover of about 90% with low light penetration. The soil had a pH of 6.83 and temperature 17°C at the time of collection. The single worker specimen was collected using a Winkler extractor from sifted leaf litter taken from 1 m2, which accounted for 760 ml of leaf litter. We captured three additional ant genera (Aphaenogaster, Carebara and Paratrechina) in the same trap.

Identification
Parasyscia ganeshaiahi is similar to the Palearctic Parasyscia piochardi in general appearance and 11-segmented antennae. Parasyscia piochardi is known from Israel, Lebanon, Syrian Arab Republic and Turkey (AntWeb 2021; Bolton 2021). Parasyscia ganeshaiahi is distinguished from P. piochardi by the following characteristics:
 * 1) head in full-face view, rectangular with weakly convex lateral sides in P. ganeshaiahi (head nearly oval shaped with strongly convex lateral sides in P. piochardi)
 * 2) strong sculpturing with relatively larger foveolae in P. ganeshaiahi (weakly sculptured with shallow, small foveolae in P. piochardi)
 * 3) head in full-face view, fovea larger in size and comparatively closely spaced in P. ganeshaiahi (fovea smaller with distinct unsculptured area present in P. piochardi)
 * 4) frontal carinae united posteriorly and extended behind in P. ganeshaiahi (frontal carinae not united and extended behind in P. piochardi)
 * 5) mesosoma in dorsal view, with nearly straight lateral margins in P. ganeshaiahi (mesosoma in dorsal view, medially concave in P. piochardi)
 * 6) petiole in profile view, with straight anterior slope in P. ganeshaiahi (weakly convex anterior margin in P. piochardi)
 * 7) anterior margin of petiole in dorsal view, with a distinct carina in P. ganeshaiahi (carina absent in P. piochardi)
 * 8) P. ganeshaiahi is a smaller species, HW 0.46, TL 2.82 (P. piochardi is larger, HW 0.53, TL 3.40)
 * 9) P. ganeshaiahi has comparatively bigger eyes in relation to head width, EI 11 (P. piochardi has smaller eyes in relation to the head width, EI 6)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 * . Parasyscia ganeshaiahi Aswaj et al., 2021: 63, figs. 1, 2A–F (w.) INDIA (Arunachal Pradesh).

Type Material

 * Holotype: One worker, point mounted. Original label: “India, Arunachal Pradesh, West Kameng, Eaglenest WLS, 27.0433°N, 92.4209°E, 1400m, Winkler extraction method, 14th April 2013, Aniruddha Marathe leg.” [NBAIR/ HYM-FOR/1721-1].