Polyplectropus banksianus Flint

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 149-151

Polyplectropus banksianus Flint

Figs. 74, 136

Polyplectropus banksianus Flint, 1971: 27 . [Type locality: Brazil [Edo. Amazonas], Manaus; MCZ (on loan to NMNH); male;— Banks, 1913: 88 [as Ecnomodes buchwaldi , misidentification].

This species is similar to P. maculatus , new species and P. hamulus Flint in the overall shape of the male genitalia, particularly in the shape of the inferior appendage. Polyplectropus banksianus can be distinguished from P. maculatus by the cylindrical apex of the dorsal branch of the inferior appendage (expanded ventrad in P. maculatus ) and by the shorter spines in the endothecal membrane of the phallus, which are 2x as long in P. maculatus . Polyplectropus banksianus can be distinguished from P. hamulus by the subapically produced and apically oblong of the dorsal phallic sclerite (pandurate in P. hamulus ), by the shape of the ventral branch of the inferior appendage, by the narrower mesoventral process, and by the curved endothecal phallic spines (straight in P. hamulus ).

Adult. Length of forewing 4.5 mm, n = 2. Color of head and thorax brown, legs yellowish-brown; setae on body grey and golden brown; 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 lanceolate; in caudal view lanceolate, curved, narrowing and becoming sclerous apically, directed posterolaterad. Preanal appendage tripartite; dorsolateral process bulbous, originating from dorsum of mesolateral process, bearing dorsal microsetae; mesolateral process setose; in dorsal view oblong, in lateral view orbicular; mesoventral process setose; in lateral view hook-like, with ventrad-directed sclerotized apex, anteroventral margin concave, posterior margin convex; in caudal view not fused basomesally, processes separated, ventral margin of process acute, with ventrolateral margin tapering ventrad into sclerotized point. Inferior appendage bipartite with anterior basal plate extending anterad beyond sternum IX when observed in lateral view; dorsal branch setose, in lateral view clavate, elongate, with posteroventral margin slightly concave subapically; in ventral view narrow, lateral margin convex, entire, posterior margin rounded, mesal margin entire, apically expanded, becoming concave, expanding posterad into ventral branch; ventral branch setose, basally broad, in lateral view ovate, 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 slightly sinuate, dorsally produced subapically, apex oblong; apex of dorsal phallic sclerite in dorsal view membranous; endothecal membrane with 2 stout, medium-sized, sclerotized spines.

Material examined. BRAZIL: [Amazonas]: Manaus, [no date], Mann — 2 males ( MCZ) [“ MCZ 321 / 10”] .

Distribution. Brazil.