Polyplectropus maculatus, Chamorro & Holzenthal, 2010

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 176-178

Polyplectropus maculatus , new species

Figs. 89, 136

Polyplectropus maculatus is most similar to P. banksianus Flint in the shapes of the ventral branch of the inferior appendage, mesoventral process of preanal appendage, and sternum IX. It also resembles P. elongatus (Yamamoto) in the shape of the phallus and presence of elongate, stout spines, and in the shape and direction of the intermediate appendage. Polyplectropus maculatus differs from P. banksianus in the subapical expansion of the ventral margin of the dorsal branch of the inferior appendage and in the presence of elongate spines in the endothecal membrane of the phallus (spines more than 2x as long as in P. banksianus ). Polyplectropus maculatus can be distinguished from P. elongatus in the more acute apex of the ventral branch (rounded in P. elongatus ) and expanded apex of the dorsal branch (being cylindrical in P. elongatus ) of the inferior appendage. Also, the endothecal spines in the phallus are more robust in P. maculatus .

Adult. Length of forewing 4–5.1 mm, n=99. Color of head, thorax, and legs yellowish-brown; tegulae with long, golden brown and grey setae; setae on wings golden brown along costal margin with patches of grey setae interspersed along margin and on most of wing surface.

Male genitalia. Sternum IX in lateral view rounded, anterior margin convex, posterior margin sinuate and submedially concave; in ventral view rectangular, anterior margin concave, posterior margin convex, medially shallowly emarginate. Tergum X membranous, oblong, bearing dorsal microsetae; lower lip of tergum X membranous, smooth, without dorsal microsetae; in dorsal view obtuse; in caudal view produced dorsad of phallocrypt. Intermediate appendage longer than inferior appendage, rod-like, with long basal setae and few scattered subapically; in dorsal view slightly broad basally, tapering into curved rods; in caudal view lanceolate, curved, directed posterolaterad. Preanal appendage tripartite; dorsolateral process bulbous, originating from dorsum of mesolateral process, bearing dorsal microsetae; mesolateral process setose; in dorsal view deltoid, in lateral view rectangular; mesoventral process setose; in lateral view hook-like, with ventrad-directed sclerotized apex, ventral margin concave, posterior margin convex; in caudal view not fused basomesally, processes separated, ventral margin of process acute, with ventrolateral margin slightly produced. Inferior appendage bipartite with anterior basal plate extending anterad beyond sternum IX when observed in lateral view; dorsal branch setose, in lateral view lanceolate, with apicoventral margin produced ventrad; in ventral view narrow, lateral margin sinuate, entire, posterior margin angled and truncate, mesal margin entire, concave, expanding posterad into ventral branch; ventral branch setose, elongate, in lateral view digitate, narrowing posterad; in ventral view deltoid, posteromesal margin produced posterad into pointed apex, mesal margin slightly convex, shallowly converging mesally. Phallus long; dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view sinuate; apex of dorsal phallic sclerite in dorsal view rounded; dorsolateral arm of dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view tapering ventrally; in dorsal view digitate, extending beyond apex, apex directed medially, apex rounded; endothecal membrane with 2 stout, elongate, sclerotized spines.

Holotype male: VENEZUELA: Territorio Federal Amazonas [Estado Amazonas]: Cerro de la Neblina, Basecamp , 00°51'N, 66°10'W, 140 m 19.iii.1984, Flint & Louton —( UMSP000107510 ) ( NMNH).

Paratypes: VENEZUELA: Territorio Federal Amazonas [Estado Amazonas]: Cerro de la Neblina, Basecamp, 140 m, 24.xi.–1.xii.1984, R L Brown — 1 male ( NMNH); Cerro de la Neblina , Basecamp , 00°51'N, 66°10'W, 140 m, 4–12.ii.1984, Davis & McCabe — 31 males ( NMNH); 13–20.ii.1984, Davis & McCabe — 3 males, 1 female ( NMNH); 21–29.ii.1984, Davis & McCabe — 11 males ( NMNH); 21–28.ii.1985, Spangler, Faitoute & Steiner — 1 female ( NMNH); in rainforest, 20.ii.1985, Spangler, Faitoute & Steiner — 1 male ( NMNH); 13–20.ii.1984, Davis & McCabe — 1 female ( NMNH); 21–29.ii.1984, Davis & McCabe — 8 females ; 4–12.ii.1984, Davis & McCabe — 11 females ( NMNH); Agua Blanca , 00°49'00"N, 66°08'00"W, 160 m, 20–21.iii.1984, Flint & Louton — 9 males, 7 females ( UMSP); Camp IV, 00°58'00"N, 65°57'00"W, 760 m, 15–18.iii.1984, O S Flint — 5 males ( NMNH); Cerro de la Neblina, small stream east side of basecamp, 00°51'00"N, 66°10'00"W, 140 m, 20–24.iii.1984, Flint & Louton — 5 males, 2 females ( NMNH); Cerro de la Neblina, Basecamp, 00°50'00"N, 66°09'44"W, 140 m, 1–10.iii.1984, Davis & McCabe — 4 males ( NMNH) .

Distribution. Venezuela.

Etymology. This species is named for the lighter colored mottling on the forewing.