Polyplectropus venezolanus, Chamorro & Holzenthal, 2010

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 218-219

Polyplectropus venezolanus , new species

Figs. 99C, D, 114, 130

This species is most similar to P. pugiunculatus Botosaneanu , but differs in the presence of a shortened dorsolateral process of the preanal appendage (elongate in P. pugiunculatus ), by the narrower mesoventral process of the preanal appendage and intermediate appendage. Polyplectropus venezolanus also differs from other members of the group by the presence of 2 apicoventral peg-like setae on the interior margin (mesal margin) of the dorsal branch of the inferior appendage (1 present in P. pugiunculatus ).

Adult. Length of forewing 5 mm, n = 3. 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 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 entire, posterior margin entire; in ventral view rectangular, anterior margin concave, posterior margin with slight median flange. Tergum X membranous, oblong, bearing dorsal microsetae. Intermediate appendage as long as inferior appendage, digitate, with long and short setae throughout; in dorsal view broad, tapering mesoventrally to subacute apex; in caudal view digitate, narrowing apically, directed posteromesad; median papillate lobe flanking phallocrypt laterally, bearing small apical setae. Preanal appendage tripartite; dorsolateral process short, originating from dorsum of mesolateral process, directed anterad, recurved posterad, tapering mesally into acute apex; mesolateral process setose; in dorsal view oblong, in lateral view orbicular; mesoventral process setose; in lateral view hook-like, tapering ventrally into sclerotized apex, anteroventral margin concave, posterior margin convex; in caudal view processes separated, ventral margin of process rounded. Inferior appendage bipartite with anterior basal plate not extending anterad beyond sternum IX when observed in lateral view; dorsal branch setose, in lateral view pandurate, with ventral margin undulate, bearing several apical, sclerotized spines; in ventral view narrow, lateral margin slightly convex, entire, posterior margin subacute, subapically expanded, becoming concave, expanding posterad into ventral branch; ventral branch setose, short, bearing 4–7 robust, sclerotized spines basally and apically; in lateral view digitate, narrowing posterad; in ventral view deltoid, posteromesal margin convex, rapidly converging mesally. Phallus short; dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view sinuate, apex pandurate; apex of dorsal phallic sclerite in dorsal view emarginate; dorsolateral arm of dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view tapering subapically; in dorsal view tapering subapically; endothecal membrane without embedded spines.

Female genitalia. Ventral plates of segment VIII setose, in ventral view oblong, medial margin narrowing posterolaterally; in lateral view oblong, narrowly fused to sternite VIII; external part of gonopod of segment VIII in ventral view with posterior margin obcordate; in lateral view acute, curved dorsad; internal part of gonopod sclerotized, in ventral view with mesal margin linear. Tergum IX devoid of setae, lightly sclerotized. 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.

Holotype male: VENEZUELA: Sucre: Rio Cocollar , 1.5 km SE Las Piedras de Cocollar, 10°09'37"N, 63°47'36"W, 810 m, 7–8.iv.1995, Holzenthal & Flint ( UMSP).

Paratypes: VENEZUELA: Sucre: Q[ue]b[ra]d[a] Zapateral, 1.5 km SE Las Piedras de Cocollar, 10°09'45"N, 63°47'35"W, 810 m, 9.iv.1995, Holzenthal & Flint — 1 female ( NMNH); Rio Cocollar , 1.5 km SE Las Piedras de Cocollar, 10°09'37"N, 63°47'36"W, 810 m, 7–8.iv.1995, Holzenthal & Flint — 1 male ( UMSP) .

Distribution. Venezuela.

Etymology. This species is named for the country of Venezuela, type locality of the species.