Polyplectropus denticulus Bueno-Soria

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 204-206

Polyplectropus denticulus Bueno-Soria

Figs. 105, 127

Polyplectropus denticulus Bueno-Soria, 1990: 369 . [Type locality: Costa Rica, Limón, Río General, Pacuare ; NMNH; male.]

Polyplectropus denticulus is similar to P. thilus (Denning) and P. yolandae Chamorro-Lacayo & Holzenthal , but differs in having a shorter, rounded intermediate appendage, which is almost the same size as the papillate lobe and an apically acute mesoventral process of the preanal appendage. Additionally, P. denticulus has a relatively narrower dorsal branch of the inferior appendage than P. yolandae .

Adult. Length of forewing 3.5–5.5 mm, n = 16. Color of head, thorax, and legs yellowish-brown; setae on body grey and golden brown; setae on wings yellow with small patches of brown setae.

Male genitalia. Sternum IX in lateral view deltoid, anterior margin sinuate and submedially produced, posterior margin sinuate and submedially concave; in ventral view rectangular, anterior margin concave, posterior margin with median flange. Tergum X membranous, oblong, bearing dorsal microsetae. Intermediate appendage not longer than inferior appendage, digitate, with long setae throughout; in dorsal view subquadrate; in caudal view digitate, directed posterolaterad; median papillate lobe small, flanking phallocrypt laterally, bearing small apical setae. Preanal appendage tripartite; dorsolateral process elongate, originating from dorsum of mesolateral process, directed anterad, recurved posteromesad then posterolaterad, tapering mesally into acute apex; mesolateral process setose; in dorsal view obovate, in lateral view orbicular; mesoventral process setose; in lateral view hook-like, with ventrad-directed sclerotized apex, anteroventral margin concave, posterior margin rounded; in caudal view processes separated, ventral margin of process acute, with ventrolateral margin produced ventrad. 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, posterior margin truncate; in ventral view narrow, lateral margin slightly convex, entire, posterior margin rounded, mesal margin slightly undulate, angled, expanding posterad into ventral branch; ventral branch setose, elongate, bearing robust, sclerotized spines along entire dorsal surface; in lateral view digitate, narrowing posterad; in ventral view deltoid, posteromesal margin angled, gradually converging mesally. Phallus long; dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view sinuate, apex oblong; endothecal membrane without embedded spines.

Material Examined. COSTA RICA: Guanacaste: Quebrada Garcia, 10.6 km ENE Quebrada Grande, 10°51'43"N, 85°25'41"W, 470 m, 8.iii.1986, Holzenthal & Fasth — 1 male ( UMSP) ; Parque Nacional Guanacaste, Quebrada Alcornoque, El Hacha, 11°00'32"N, 85°34'37"W, 250 m, 26.vii.1987, Holzenthal, Morse & Clausen — 1 male ( UMSP) ; Río Orosí, Estación Pitilla , 10°59'28"N, 85°25'41"W, 700 m, 22– 25.v.1990, Holzenthal & Blahnik — 1 male ( UMSP) ; Heredia: Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo, Río Peje, Puesto El Ceiba , 10°19'37"N, 84°04'41"W, 480 m, 29–31.v.1990, Holzenthal, Blahnik & Muñoz — 1 male ( UMSP) ; [Limón]: Río General, Pacuare , 1.vii.1967, Flint & Ortiz — 1 male [holotype] ( NMNH) [“ USNM Type No. 104449”] ; Puntarenas: Río Jaba, rock quarry, 1.4 km (air) W Las Cruces , 8°47'24"N, 82°58'12"W, 1150 m, 15.iii.1991, Holzenthal, Muñoz & Huisman — 3 males, 1 female ( UMSP) ; San Miguel , 10– 14.xi.1991, F. A. Quesada — 3 males ( UMSP) ; San José : Reserva Biológica Carara, Río del Sur, 1.5 km (rd) S Carara , 9°46'08"N, 84°31'52"W, 160 m, 13.iii.1991, Holzenthal, Muñoz & Huisman — 1 male ( UMSP) ; NICARAGUA: Jinotega: Cerro Muzú , 14°33'00"N, 85°07'00"W, 220 m, 7–10.ix.1997, Maes & Hernandez — 1 male ( MEL) .

Distribution. Costa Rica, Mexico ( Bueno-Soria 1990), and Nicaragua.

Remarks. The right dorsal branch of the inferior appendage and the left mesoventral process of the preanal appendage of the holotype are broken. Paratypes from Alajuela were actually P. yolandae .