Polyplectropus hamatus Bueno-Soria

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 168-170

Polyplectropus hamatus Bueno-Soria

Figs. 85, 122

Polyplectropus hamatus Bueno-Soria, 1990: 388 . [Type locality: Mexico, Chiapas, Agua Azul , a 50 km SE de Palenque; IBUNAM; male].

Polyplectropus hamatus is readily distinguished from species in the group by the dorsally curved (curved laterad in most other species) intermediate appendage having a highly sclerotized base and by the presence of 2 short, stout spines in the phallus. This species, however, superficially resembles P. oaxaquensis Bueno and P. banksianus Flint in the shape of the inferior appendage, the dorsal phallic sclerite, and the mesoventral process of the preanal appendage.

Adult. Length of forewing 3.8–4.6 mm, n=38. Color of head and thorax yellowish-brown, legs yellow; 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 submedially concave; in ventral view rectangular, anterior margin highly 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 obtuse; in caudal view produced dorsad of phallocrypt. Intermediate appendage longer than inferior appendage, rod-like, with long basal setae; in dorsal view lanceolate; in caudal view lanceolate, curved, directed ventrolaterad, apex turned dorsad. Preanal appendage tripartite; dorsolateral process bulbous, originating from dorsum of mesolateral process, bearing dorsal microsetae; mesolateral process setose; in dorsal view orbicular, in lateral view oblong; mesoventral process setose; in lateral view hook-like, with ventrad-directed sclerotized apex, anteroventral margin concave and sinuate, posterior margin convex; in caudal view not fused basomesally, processes separated, ventral margin of process acute, 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; in ventral view narrow, lateral margin slightly convex, entire, posterior margin subacute, mesal margin slightly undulate, subapically expanded, becoming concave, expanding posterad into ventral branch; ventral branch setose, basally broad, in lateral view ovate, narrowing posterad; in ventral view deltoid, mesal margin straight, shallowly converging mesally. Phallus long; dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view slightly sinuate, dorsally produced subapically, apex narrowly oblong; apex of dorsal phallic sclerite in dorsal view acute; dorsolateral arm of dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view digitate; in dorsal view digitate, extending beyond apex, apex directed medially, apex rounded; endothecal membrane with 2 stout, sclerotized spines.

Material examined. BELIZE: Cayo: Río Privassion, Blancaneaux Lodge , [17°03'00"N, 88°58'00"W], 9– 11.vii.1973, Y. Sedman — 1 male, 8 females ( NMNH) ; Mountain Pine Ridge , 27–29.vi.1971, G. Stacell — 2 males, 12 females ( NMNH) ; Toledo: Blue Creek Village , 10.vi.1981, W. E. Steiner — 1 male ( NMNH) ; MEXICO: Chiapas: Cascada Misolja , 20 km S Palenque, 17–18.v.1981, C & O Flint — 1 male ( NMNH) [paratype] ; Cascada de Misolja , 18.v.1981, J. Bueno-Soria — 1 female ( IBUNAM) [paratype] ; Bonampak , 20– 25.v.1980, J. Bueno-Soria — 1 male, 3 females ( IBUNAM) [paratype] ; Agua Azul , 23.vii.1978, J. Bueno- Soria — 4 males ( IBUNAM) [holotype] [paratypes] ; Boca Lacantun , 24.v.1984, Barrera et. al.— 1 male ( IBUNAM) [paratypes] ; Palenque, Río Chacamax-Nututum , 17°29'10"N, 91°58'24"W, 15.vii.1998 R. Barba — 2 males ( IBUNAM) ; Oaxaca: Rta. Juchitan-Tehuantepec a 17 km de Tehuantepec , 23.vii.1978, J. Bueno-Soria — 1 male ( IBUNAM) ; 23.v.1981, J. Bueno-Soria — 1 female ( IBUNAM) .

Distribution. Belize and Mexico.