Polyplectropus bredini Flint

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 80-81

Polyplectropus bredini Flint

Figs. 37, 38A, B, 126

Polyplectropus bredini Flint 1968: 21 [Type locality: Dominica, Pont Casse , 1.3 miles east: NMNH; male.]

Polyplectropus bredini is most similar to P. mignonae Bueno-Soria in the shapes of the phallus and of the intermediate and preanal appendages. These 2 species can be distinguished by differences in the dorsal branch of the inferior appendage. Polyplectropus bredini has elongate apical spines and the dorsal branch is almost twice as broad apically and basally. In addition, the mesoventral process of the preanal appendage is basally broader in P.bredini than in P. mignonae and the ventral branch of the inferior appendage is produced more laterad in P. bredini .

Adult. Length of forewing 4–4.6 mm, n = 4. Color of head, thorax, and legs yellowish-brown; setae on body grey and golden brown; tegulae with long, golden brown and grey setae; setae on wings darker brown along costal margin, rest of wing lighter shade of brown with scattered patches of grey setae.

Male genitalia. Sternum IX in lateral view rounded, anterior margin convex, posterior margin sinuate and supramedially concave; in ventral view rectangular, anterior margin concave, posterior margin convex. Tergum X membranous, oblong, bearing dorsal microsetae; lower lip of tergum X membranous bearing microsetae, digitate and slightly ridged; in dorsal view emarginate; in caudal view membrane surrounding phallocrypt. Intermediate appendage longer than inferior appendage, narrowly digitate with long setae throughout; in dorsal view digitate, linear; in caudal view digitate, directed posterodorsad. Preanal appendage bipartite; mesolateral process setose; in dorsal view oblong, in lateral view oblong; mesoventral process setose; in lateral view quadrate with ventrad-directed sclerotized apex, posterior margin truncate; in caudal view processes separated, ventral margin of process subacute, basally broad. Inferior appendage bipartite with anterior basal plate not extending anterad beyond sternum IX when observed in lateral view; dorsal branch setose, in lateral view oblong, with posteroventral margin highly undulate, bearing 3–6 long, stout, apical sclerotized spines; in ventral view broad, lateral margin convex, undulate, posterior margin undulate, mesal margin sinuate, straight, becoming concave, expanding posterad into ventral branch, dorsal branch of specimens from Dominica have 4 apical, elongate spines, while specimens from St. Lucia have only 3; ventral branch setose, broad, bearing a row of 4–7 robust, sclerotized spines along posterior margin; in lateral view clavate, posteromesal margin convex, mesal margin straight, gradually converging mesally. Phallus long; dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view sinuate, apex pandurate to oblong; apex of dorsal phallic sclerite in dorsal view emarginate; endothecal membrane without embedded spines.

Female genitalia. Ventral plates of segment VIII setose, in ventral view oblong, in lateral view oblong, broadly fused to sternite VIII; external part of gonopod of segment VIII in ventral view with posterior margin truncate, in lateral view scirrhous, curved ventrad; internal part of gonopod sclerotized, in ventral view with mesal margin acutely angled posterad, not meeting mesally. Tergum IX devoid of setae, expanded laterad. Segment X setose, apically bearing a pair of sclerotized cerci surrounded by 2 pairs of membranous digitate processes. Genital chamber opening to processus spermathecae through sclerotized circular opening of ductus spermathecae.

Material Examined. DOMINICA: Fond Figures River , Bredin-Archbold-Smithsonian Bio [logical] Survey Dominica, 13.iii.1965, W. W. Wirth — 1 male [paratype] ( NMNH) ; 1.3 mi E. of Pont Casse , 12.v.1964, O. S. Flint — 1 male [paratype] ( NMNH) ; Syndicate Est. , 5.iii.1964, D. F. Bray — 1 female [allotype] ( NMNH) ; SAINT LUCIA: R. Galet, S. of Denneny , 1.viii.1963, Flint & Cadet — 1 male ( NMNH) .

Distribution. Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Saint Lucia ( Botosaneanu, 1988; Flint, 1968).