Myrmelachista plebecula

Wheeler (1934) collected specimens from Tillandsia.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala.

Nomenclature

 *  plebecula. Myrmelachista plebecula Menozzi, 1927d: 338 (w.) COSTA RICA. Longino, 2006a: 43 (q.). Senior synonym of costaricensis: Longino, 2006a: 43.
 * costaricensis. Myrmelachista costaricensis Wheeler, W.M. 1934g: 196, fig. 3 (w.m.) COSTA RICA. Junior synonym of plebecula: Longino, 2006a: 43.

Male
Wheeler (1934), for the synonomized M. costaricensis - Length 1.8-2.3 mm.

Head through the eyes somewhat broader than long, semicircularly rounded behind, with short, straight, anteriorly converging cheeks. Eyes and ocelli large and prominent. Clypeus like that of the worker, but with only an indistinct trace of the median denticle. Mandibles narrow, somewhat broadened apically, bidentate, the apical tooth acute, the basal short and blunt. Antennae 10-jointed; scapes fully 5 times as long as broad; first funicular joint nearly twice as long as broad; joints 2-5 small, nearly as long as broad; club very distinctly 4-jointed, the 3 basal joints sub equal, longer than broad, together much longer than the somewhat more swollen terminal joint. Thorax large, broader than the head; mesonotum large, subcircular, as broad as long, very convex in front, flattened behind. Epinotum small, lower than the mesonotum, shaped somewhat as in the worker. Petiolar scale lower and thicker, its summit much less acute, from behind straight, transverse and entire. Gaster shaped as in the worker; genitalia large and exserted. Legs long and slender.

Wings longer than the body, with well-developed pterostigma and closed marginal cell; discoidal cell lacking.

Smooth and shining; mandibles sub opaque, finely and densely punctate.

Pilosity pale, shorter and less abundant than in the worker.

Head deep castaneous, clypeus, mandibles, and scapes somewhat paler; funiculi, thorax, petiole, venter, legs and genitalia brownish yellow; femora and tibiae somewhat darker; dorsum of gaster brown, paler than the head; wings colorless, with very pale yellow veins and pterostigma.