Polyplectropus spiculifer Flint

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 183-185

Polyplectropus spiculifer Flint

Figs. 93, 136

Polyplectropus spiculifer Flint, 1971: 27 . [Type locality: Brazil [Edo. Amazonas], Rio Marauiá , Endstation vor langer Cachoeira; NMNH; male].

Polyplectropus spiculifer is unique among this group of species in that a dorsolateral process arises dorsad of the mesolateral process and the bulbous structure with microsetae, usually present in other species of the group, is not as strongly defined. This dorsolateral process may be mistaken for a bipartite intermediate appendage, however, the intermediate appendage is simple, sinuate, and slender. The other structures of the male genitalia resemble P. elongatus (Yamamoto) , however P. spiculifer has 2 medium-sized endothecal phallic spines, as well as the above mentioned characteristic making it easily distinguishable from all other species.

Adult. Length of forewing 4.5 mm, n=1. Color of head, thorax, and legs brown; mottled wing (specimen preserved in alcohol).

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 obcordate; in caudal view produced dorsad of phallocrypt. Intermediate appendage longer than inferior appendage, rod-like, with long basal setae; in dorsal view lanceolate, base circular; in caudal view lanceolate, elongate, apically curved, directed posterolaterad. Preanal appendage tripartite; dorsolateral process short, originating from dorsum of mesolateral process, recurved posterad, tapering mesally into acute apex, posteromedially with short spine and bearing basal and dorsal microsetae; mesolateral process setose; in dorsal view deltoid, in lateral view oblong; mesoventral process setose; in lateral view hook-like, with ventrad-directed sclerotized apex, anteroventral margin sinuate, posterior margin rounded; in caudal view not fused basomesally, processes separated, ventral margin of process cuspidate, with ventrolateral margin produced ventrad. Inferior appendage bipartite with anterior basal plate extending anterad beyond sternum IX when observed in lateral view; dorsal branch setose, in lateral view lanceolate, slightly curved apically; in ventral view narrow, lateral margin sinuate, slightly undulate, posterior margin angled, mesal margin entire, concave, expanding posterad into ventral branch; ventral branch setose, short and basally broad, in lateral view ovate, broadly narrowing posterad; in ventral view subquadrate, 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 rounded; endothecal membrane with 2 thin, medium-sized spines.

Material examined. BRAZIL: Amazonas : Rio Marauiá , Endstation langer Cachoeira , Flussss tritt hier aus dem Gebirge mit starkem Gefälle, 28.i.1963, E. J. Fittkau — 1 male ( NMNH) [holotype] .

Distribution. Brazil.