Myrmelachista brevicornis

Identification
Worker with nine antennal segments. See Longino's comments regarding Myrmelachista of South America.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil, Peru.

Nomenclature

 *  brevicornis. Myrmelachista brevicornis Wheeler, W.M. 1934g: 199 (w.) BRAZIL.

Worker
Length 1.2 mm.

Resembling Myrmelachista guyanensis in the shape of the head, but the mandibles are smaller, much less convex, with smaller and more nearly sub equal teeth and distinctly shorter antennae. The scapes scarcely extend beyond the posterior orbits of the small, flat eyes; joints 2-5 of the funiculi even shorter than in guyanensis and the two basal joints or the clubs broader than long and together much shorter than the large, swollen terminal joint. Thorax like that of guyanensis but the mesonotum less depressed, more distinctly elevated above the epinotum; the petiolar scale narrower, with straight subparallel sides and only feebly sinuate superior border; posterior peduncle scarcely developed.

Sculpture and pilosity as in guyanensis but there are a few short, erect hairs on the thorax and the pubescence on the tibire and scapes is longer and somewhat oblique.

Head, thorax and petiole rather bright yellowish-red; gaster black; antenna: and legs reddish-yellow; mandibular teeth reddish.

Type Material
Two specimens from Santarem, Brazil, received many years ago from Staudinger and Bang-Haas. These specimens had passed through Emery's hands but he had refrained from describing them.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Brandao, C.R.F. 1991. Adendos ao catalogo abreviado das formigas da regiao neotropical (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Rev. Bras. Entomol. 35: 319-412.
 * Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
 * Wheeler W. M. 1934. Neotropical ants collected by Dr. Elisabeth Skwarra and others. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 77: 157-240.
 * Wilson, E.O. 1987. The Arboreal Ant Fauna of Peruvian Amazon Forests: A First Assessment. Biotropica 19(3):245-251.