Polyplectropus minensium, Chamorro & Holzenthal, 2010

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 140-142

Polyplectropus minensium , new species

Figs. 16D, 69, 143

Both P. minensium and P. narifer Flint have a tripartite intermediate appendage with at least one lobe being sclerotized. Both species have a single dorsolateral process of the preanal appendage and a rounded apex (instead of acute) of the ventral branch of the inferior appendage (best observed in ventral view). However, P. minensium can be distinguished from P. narifer by the dorsally directed hook-shaped sclerotized lobe of the intermediate appendage (posteriorly directed in P. narifer ), by the acute apex of the dorsal branch of the inferior appendage (apparently rounded in P. narifer ), by the elongate dorsal digitate lobe of the mesoventral process of the preanal appendage, and by the smaller, less robust apex of the dorsal phallic sclerite.

Adult. Length of forewing 5–5.5 mm, n = 13. Color of head and thorax brown, legs yellowish-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 deltoid, anterior margin submedially produced, posterior margin sinuate and submedially produced; in ventral view rectangular, anterior margin highly concave, posterior margin with median flange. Tergum X membranous, oblong, bearing dorsal microsetae. Intermediate appendage not longer than inferior appendage, tripartite and basally with digitate dorsally directed primary lobe, apically becoming hook-like and upturned dorsad, mesally broadly membranous, with long setae throughout and ventral microsetae; in dorsal view digitate, apex narrowing laterad, basally produced into lateral lobe and mesoventrally into membranous digitate lobe; in caudal view tripartite, basomesal digitate lobe flanking phallocrypt dorsad and directed dorsad and ventrally bearing microsetae, basolateral lobe setose, apical lobe lanceolate, directed posterolaterad. Preanal appendage tripartite; dorsolateral process elongate, originating from dorsum of mesolateral process, recurved posterad, tapering into acute apex; mesolateral process setose; in dorsal view orbicular, in lateral view deltoid; mesoventral process setose; in lateral view hook-like, tapering ventrally into sclerotized apex and with elongate, dorsal digitate lobe extending beyond phallocrypt, yet flanking it laterad, ventral margin concave, posterior margin undulate; in caudal view processes separated, ventral margin of process acute. Inferior appendage bipartite with anterior basal plate not extending anterad beyond sternum IX when observed in lateral view; dorsal branch setose, in lateral view lanceolate, apex acute and slightly curved ventrad; in ventral view narrow, lateral margin slightly convex, sinuate, posterior margin acute, mesal margin entire, angled, expanding posterad into ventral branch; ventral branch setose, elongate, bearing robust, sclerotized spines basally; in lateral view digitate, truncate posterad; in ventral view subquadrate, mesal margin slightly angled, gradually converging mesally. Phallus long; dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view sinuate, apex pandurate; apex of dorsal phallic sclerite in dorsal view rounded; dorsolateral arm of dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view tapering subapically; endothecal membrane with 2 stout, short, sinuate, sclerotized spines.

Holotype male: BRAZIL: Minas Gerais: Parque Estadual do Itacolomi, trib[utary] to Rio Belchior , 20°25'18"S, 43°25'42"W, 700 m, 6.xi.2001, Holzenthal, Amarante, Blahnik & Paprocki —( UMSP000081577 ) ( MZUSP).

Paratypes: BRAZIL: Minas Gerais: Parque Estadual do Itacolomi, trib[utary] to Rio Belchior , 20°25'18"S, 43°25'42"W, 700 m, 6.xi.2001, Holzenthal, Amarante, Blahnik & Paprocki — 3 males, 5 females ( UMSP) ; P[arque] E[stadual] de São Gonçalo do Rio Preto , Córrego das Éguas, 18°08'43"S, 43°22'09"W, 891 m, 14.x.2000, Paprocki, Amarante & Isaac — 1 male, 1 female ( NMNH) ; Cachoeira do Abacaxi, Vale do Tropeiro , 20°12'16"S, 43°38'10"W, 1120 m, 7.xi.2001, Holzenthal, Amarante, Blahnik & Paprocki — 2 males ( MZUSP) .

Distribution. Brazil.

Etymology. This species is named after the State of Minas Gerais in Brazil where the holotype and paratypes were collected.