Myrmelachista

Longino, J. T., 2006, A taxonomic review of the genus Myrmelachista (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Costa Rica., Zootaxa 1141, pp. 1-54 : 51

[[ Genus Myrmelachista ]]

From the descriptions of both species and my examination of workers of guyanensis , these two species are similar to and could be synonymous with plebecula . But further collections of South American Myrmelachista will be necessary to further understand their status.

It is tempting to speculate that the 10-segmented forms, widespread and diverse in South America, have spawned one main radiation of 9-segmented forms in Central America and the Caribbean. In this scenario only plebecula , the "weediest" of 9- segmented forms, has spread into South America, and there is no diverse community of 9- segmented forms there. But the late discovery of a trove of 9-segmented Myrmelachista species in Costa Rica shows that this group may remain hidden from the general collector, even in the face of prolonged collecting effort. Thus we remain ignorant of extent of such forms in the South American hylea.