Yavnella

The two species of Yavnella  are only known from males.

Identification
Kugler (1987) - The male of Yavnella is similar to the male of Noonilla by having a short head with vertical or strongly oblique frons, and by the alitrunk not laterally compressed. The wing venation is also similar to that of Noonilla, differing only by the number of basal cells which are 2 in Noonilla and only 1 large, undivided cell in Yavnella. The petiole is simple in both genera, without well differentiated node. The main difference between Noonilla and Yavnella is the structure of propodeum and genitalia. In Noonilla the propodeum is convex, the gonocoxites fused and strongly reduced, the gonostyli are missing and the gonapophyses are united in a cylindrical tube. In Yavnella the basal part of the propodeum is strongly concave, the genitalia are similar to those of most Leptanilla males: the gonocoxites are large sclerites, separated dorsally and ventrally. The gonostyli are present and the gonapophyses are united into a large shield-like structure. Yavnella is easily distinguished from Leptanilla by the shape of the head and petiole. In Leptanilla the head is longer than wide, the frons is horizontal or only slightly oblique and the petiole has a well differentiated node. In Yavnella the head is wider than long, the frons is vertical or strongly oblique, the petiolar node is not well differentiated.

Castes
Known only from males.

Nomenclature

 *  YAVNELLA [Leptanillinae: Leptanillini]
 * Yavnella Kugler, J. 1987: 52. Type-species: Yavnella argamani, by original designation.

Collingwood and Agosti (1996) reported males collected from a light trap in Yemen that do not appear to be one of the two species already described.

Male
Head: Oblique to nearly vertical, inclusive of eyes wider than long, with bulge on vertex which carries the ocelli; eyes bare, very large and very convex; antennae filiform, very long, 13-segmented; scapus and 1st funicular segment short, other segments more than 3 time as long as wide; clypeus well differentiated; mouthparts typical for Leptanillinae males, mandibles short, not reaching one another, toothless, with spoon-like excavation, maxillary and labial palps each with 1 segment.

Alitrunk: Not compressed laterally, much longer than wide, mesonotum bulging anteriorly above the pronotum; scutellum strongly convex; dorsal margin of propodeum concave; metapleural glands absent.

Legs: Long, slender, fore tibia with 1 spur, mid and hind tibiae with 2 spurs.

Wings: With reduced venation; forewing with costa, subcosta, radialis, analis and 1 basal vein; only 2 cells are present, a costal and an undivided basal cell; hind wings veinless.

Petiole: Simple, anteriorly with short stalk; posteriorly separated from gaster by only a very slight constriction.

Gaster: Long oval, slightly curved, with 6 visible tergites.

Genitalia: Not contractile, very large, more than 1/2 length of gaster; gonoforceps (goncoxite + gonostylus) well developed, pointed at distal end; gonapophyses united into large shield-like dorsally convex plate.

Etymology
The generic name is derived from Yavne, the locality in Israel, where the first specimens of the type-species were collected.