Polyplectropus colombianus, Chamorro & Holzenthal, 2010

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 85-87

Polyplectropus colombianus , new species

Figs. 15B, 41, 134

Polyplectropus colombianus is a very distinct species and superficially resembles P. corniculatus , new species in the presence of an elongate dorsolateral process of the preanal appendage and in the overall shape of the inferior appendage. However, P. colombianus is easily distinguished from any other species by the presence of a prominent and apically emarginate basal dorsal digitate lobe on the mesoventral process of the preanal appendage, by the rounded apex of the incompletely fused mesoventral process of the preanal appendage, by the enlarged and modified apex of the phallus, and by the medially membranous posterior margin of sternum IX. Additionally, this species has small clusters of microsetae on the surface of the mesoventral process of the preanal appendage, a feature unique to this species.

Adult. Length of forewing 5.8 mm, n = 1. Color of head, thorax, and legs brown; setae on body brown with clusters of grey setae on apex of head; tegulae with long, golden brown and grey setae; setae on wings darker brown patches of setae basally along costal margin, rest of wing lighter shade of brown with scattered patches of grey setae.

Male genitalia. Sternum IX in lateral view broadly deltoid, anterior margin convex, posterior margin sinuate and ventrally membranous; in ventral view rectangular, anterior margin entire, posterior margin with slight median flange and mesally membranous. Tergum X membranous, oblong, bearing dorsal microsetae. Intermediate appendage not longer than inferior appendage, oblong with setose, basal digitate lobe, primary lobe with long basal setae and few scattered apically; in dorsal view digitate, basally produced laterad, with small, lateral papillate lobe; in caudal view digitate, basolateral lobe becoming oblong and flanking phallocrypt laterally, directed posterad; lateral papillate lobe very small, midway between phallocrypt and mesolateral process of preanal appendage, bearing small apical setae. Preanal appendage tripartite; dorsolateral process elongate, originating from dorsum of mesolateral process, directed anterad, recurved posterad, tapering mesally into acute apex; mesolateral process setose; in dorsal view ovate, in lateral view mesoventral process setose, in lateral view digitate, basodorsally produced into apically emarginate, clavate lobe, anteroventral margin concave, posterior margin deeply concave; in caudal view fused basomesally, surface with small scattered sculptured clumps of minute setae, processes apically separated, ventral margin of process rounded with basal dorsal digitate lobe clavate, apically emarginate and lacking clumps described above. Inferior appendage bipartite with anterior basal plate not extending anterad beyond sternum IX when observed in lateral view, anteriorly bilobed; dorsal branch setose, in lateral view obclavate, abruptly narrowing apically, bearing several apical, sclerotized spines; in ventral view broad, lateral margin sinuate, posterior margin truncate, mesal margin slightly undulate, concave, expanding posterad into ventral branch; ventral branch setose, elongate, in lateral view clavate, rounded posterad; in ventral view subquadrate, mesal margin slightly angled, gradually converging mesally. Phallus long; dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view cylindrical, apex oblong and directed ventrad; apex of dorsal phallic sclerite in dorsal view rounded; dorsolateral arm of dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view broad, produced dorsad; in dorsal view subapically broad, apex cuspidate; endothecal membrane with lightly sclerotized spines.

Holotype male. COLOMBIA: Meta: Quebrada Blanca , 3 km W. Restrepo, [4°15'00"N, 73°34'00"W], 11.ii.1983, O S Flint —( UMSP000107489 ) ( NMNH).

Distribution. Colombia.

Etymology. This species is named for the Republic of Colombia, where the holotype was collected.