Polyplectropus oaxaquensis Bueno-Soria

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 178

Polyplectropus oaxaquensis Bueno-Soria

Figs. 90, 136

Polyplectropus oaxaquensis Bueno-Soria, 1990: 395 . [Type locality: Mexico, Oaxaca, Laguna superior de Juchitán; INHS; male].

Polyplectropus oaxaquensis can be distinguished from all other species in the group by the elongate, stout, linear phallic spines. The spines may even be visible without clearing of the abdomen. Otherwise, this species is most similar to P. banksianus Flint in the overall shape of the genitalia and the dorsal phallic sclerite.

Adult. Length of forewing 4.5 mm, n = 5. Color of head and thorax brown, legs yellowish-brown (specimens preserved in alcohol).

Male genitalia. Sternum IX in lateral view deltoid to 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, digitate; in dorsal view obtuse; in caudal view produced dorsad of phallocrypt. Intermediate appendage longer than inferior appendage, rod-like, with long basal setae; in dorsal view slightly broad basally, tapering into curved rods; in caudal view lanceolate, curved, directed posterolaterad. Preanal appendage tripartite; dorsolateral process bulbous, originating from dorsum of mesolateral process, bearing 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 concave, posterior margin rounded; in caudal view not fused basomesally, processes separated, ventral margin of process subacute, 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, apex acute; in ventral view narrow, lateral margin convex, sinuate, posterior margin subacute, mesal margin entire, straight, becoming concave, expanding posterad into ventral branch; ventral branch setose, basally broad, in lateral view ovate, narrowing posterad; in ventral view broadly rhombate, mesal margin straight, shallowly converging mesally. Phallus long; dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view slightly sinuate, dorsally produced subapically, apex oblong; endothecal membrane with 2 stout, elongate, sclerotized spines, form from Peru has slightly more basally robust spines and slightly longer than holotype.

Material examined. MEXICO: Oaxaca: Laguna Superior de Juchitán , 30.iv.1932, A . Dampf — 4 males (holotype & paratypes) ( INHS). PERU: [Oxapampa]: Puerto Bermudez, Río Pichis , 15.vii.1920 [No data about collector]— 1 male ( NMNH) .

Distribution. Mexico and Peru.

Remarks. We identified the specimen from Peru as P. oaxaquensis . Apart from slight differences in the phallic spines (specimen from Peru had slightly wider and longer spines), we did not find substantial differences to warrant the Peruvian specimen to be recognized as new and different from P. oaxaquensis . Further collecting may reveal P. oaxaquensis to be present in Central America and Northern South America. On the other hand, more specimens collected from Peru may reveal additional characters we may have overlooked, warranting the description of a new species.