Polyplectropus tragularius, Chamorro & Holzenthal, 2010

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 124-126

Polyplectropus tragularius , new species

Figs. 17F, 61, 97D, 137

Polyplectropus tragularius is a typical species of the P. fuscatus group by having a bipartite intermediate appendage, a pair of narrow, medium-sized endothecal phallic spines, a dorsal, digitate lobe of the mesoventral process of the preanal appendage as well as a pandurate dorsal branch. This species can be distinguished from P.fuscatus Flint by the presence of a dorsolateral process of the preanal appendage, by the apically free mesoventral processes of the preanal appendage (fused in P. fuscatus ), by the long, apically broader and rounded ventral lobe of the intermediate appendage (rounded in P. fuscatus ), and by the oblong ventral branch of the inferior appendage (quadrate in P. fuscatus ). Polyplectropus tragularius differs from P. rondoniensis , new species by the narrower endothecal phallic spines, by the less prominent dorsal digitate lobe of the mesoventral process, by the shape of the secondary ventral lobe of the intermediate appendage, being quadrate in P. tragularius and deltoid in P. rondoniensis , and by the absence of a median projection on the dorsal surface of the ventral branch of the inferior appendage.

Adult. Length of forewing 4–4.8 mm, n = 32. Color of head, thorax, and legs yellowish-brown; setae on body grey and golden brown; tegulae with long, golden brown and grey setae; setae on wings darker brown along costal margin, rest of wing lighter shade of brown with scattered patches of grey setae.

Male genitalia. Sternum IX in lateral view deltoid, anterior margin submedially produced, posterior margin sinuate and medially produced; in ventral view rectangular, anterior margin highly concave, posterior margin with slight median flange. Tergum X membranous, oblong, bearing dorsal microsetae; lower lip of tergum X membranous, smooth, without dorsal microsetae, digitate. Intermediate appendage not longer than inferior appendage, multilobate with ventral digitate projection, setose; in dorsal view rounded with digitate ventral setose lobe and medial membranous lobe bearing ventral microsetae dorsad of phallocrypt (may be part of lower lip of tergum X); in caudal view tripartite, primary lobe ventrally produced into digitate setose lobe and medially into membranous inversely deltoid lobe with ventral microsetae dorsally flanking phallocrypt. Preanal appendage tripartite; dorsolateral process elongate, originating from dorsum of mesolateral process, recurved posterad, tapering mesally into acute apex; mesolateral process setose; in dorsal view deltoid, in lateral view oblong; mesoventral process setose; in lateral view hook-like, with dorsal digitate lobe and ventrad-directed sclerotized apex, ventral margin concave, posterior margin concave; in caudal view fused basomesally, processes separated with dorsal digitate lobe, ventral margin of process truncate to rounded. Inferior appendage bipartite with anterior basal plate not extending anterad beyond sternum IX when observed in lateral view; dorsal branch setose, in lateral view pandurate; in ventral view narrow, lateral margin produced basolaterad, sinuate, posterior margin subacute, mesal margin sinuate, concave, subbasally produced, expanding posterad into ventral branch; ventral branch setose, elongate; in lateral view clavate, basally produced, narrowing posterad; in ventral view oblong, posteromesal margin angled, gradually converging mesally. Phallus long; dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view sinuate, apex oblong; apex of dorsal phallic sclerite in dorsal view subacute; dorsolateral arm of dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view tapering subapically; endothecal membrane with 2 thin, medium-sized spines.

Holotype male: BRAZIL: Minas Gerais: Parque Nacional Peruaçu, Rio Peruaçu , 15°06'40"S, 44°14'29"W, 590 m, 16.xi.2001, Holzenthal, Amarante, Blahnik & Paprocki —( UMSP000080851 ) ( MZUSP).

Paratypes: BRAZIL: Espirito Santo: Fazenda Santa Clara, 15 km SE Santa Teresa, [19°55'00"S, 40°36'00"W], 460 m, 22.iv.1977, C & O Flint — 1 male ( NMNH) ; 24 km SE of Santa Teresa , [19°55'00"S, 40°36'00"W], 280 m, 22.iv.1977, C & O Flint — 4 males, 1 female ( NMNH) ; Minas Gerais: Parque Nacional Peruaçu, Rio Peruaçu , 15°06'40"S, 44°14'29"W, 590 m, 16.xi.2001, Holzenthal Amarante Blahnik & Paprocki — 2 males, 5 females ( UMSP) ; Aldeia de Cachoeira das Pedras , 20°06'49"S, 44°01'25"W, 925 m, 28–29.ix. 2000, Paprocki & Braga — 1 male, 7 females ( MZUSP) ; São Paulo: Pedregulho , 20°09'07"S, 47°30'38"W, 617 m, 16.ix.2003, Holzenthal Paprocki & Calor — 9 males ( UMSP) .

Distribution. Brazil.

Etymology. The species name comes from the Latin word “tragularius” meaning “javelin-thrower” ( Brown 1985). The name is in reference to the lightly sclerotized, narrow endothecal phallic spines.