Polyplectropus sainii, Pandher & Parey, 2018

Pandher, Manpreet Singh & Parey, Sajad Hussain, 2018, New species of the genus Polyplectropus Ulmer 1905 (Insecta: Trichoptera: Polycentropodidae) from Indian Himalaya, Zootaxa 4504 (3), pp. 431-438 : 433

Polyplectropus sainii sp. nov.

( Figs 6–9 , 20–21)

Description Male. Color in alcohol dark fuscous. Antennae pale yellow. Maxillary palpi and legs brown, wings brown, covered with fuscous setae. Length from tip of head to apices of folded forewings about 7 mm. Maxillary palpi each 1.50 mm long, 2nd segment globular and small, 3rd longer than 2nd and 4th, 5 th longest, with ratios of segments I: II: III: IV: V = 1.50: 2.25: 4.00: 3.00: 6.25, respectively; labial palpi each 0.50 mm long. Length of each forewing about 6.25 mm; Forks I–V present ( Fig. 20), Fork I with petiole about 2.75 times as long as Fork I itself; discoidal cell about 3 times its width; Cu 2 recurved, and joining combined 1A+2A+3A vein at apex. Hind wings each 4 mm long; discoidal cell open ( Fig. 21).

Male genitalia ( Figs 6–9 ). Tergum IX narrow, digitate in lateral view, forming slender transverse bridge in dorsal view; sternum IX triangular in lateral view, anterolaterally produced at 75° angle, posterolaterally rounded, with broad anterior and posterior excisions in ventral view. Tergum X subrectangular, with V-shaped apicomesal incision at apex in dorsal view. Preanal appendages each broad, apically tapering toward slightly pointed apex in lateral view; long, curving caudomesad in dorsal view; dorsobasal process of each preanal appendage long, needlelike, recurved caudomesad and slightly ventrad apically in dorsal and lateral views. Inferior appendages each broad basally, narrow preapically, apically rounded with 2 subapicoventral teeth in lateral view, extending distad almost as far as its preanal appendages; ventromesal lobe well developed and curved mesad, apically curved with pointed apex. Phallus simple, tube- like, bifid apically in dorsal view, phallotheca sclerotized, tube-like, endotheca membranous, sclerites not very clearly visible.

Holotype male. INDIA: Himachal Pradesh, Traila , 2,200 m, 17-vii-2010, Pandher & Parey, NPC . Paratype s: 2 males, collection data same as of holotype.

Diagnosis. This species is very close to Polyplectropus himachalica sp. nov. However, the apex of each inferior appendage is rounded and bears two spine-like teeth subapicoventrally in lateral view in Pol. sainii sp. nov., whereas the apex of each inferior appendage is pointed and with multiple spine like teeth subapicoventrally in lateral view in Pol. himachalica sp. nov. Moreover, the posterolateral margins of sternum IX are rounded in Pol. sainii , but angled in Pol. himachalica .

Distribution. India: Himachal Pradesh.

Etymology. This species is named to honor Dr. M.S. Saini for his contribution to the taxonomy of Indian caddisflies.

Figures

FIGURES 1–9. Polyplectropus spp., male genitalia. 1–5, Pol. himachalica sp. nov.: 1, left lateral; 2, dorsal; 3, segment IX and inferior appendages, ventral; 4, phallus, left lateral; 5, phallus, ventral. 6–9, Pol. sainii sp.nov.: 6, left lateral; 7, dorsal; 8, segment IX and inferior appendages, ventral; 9, phallus, left lateral. (abbreviations: s.IX = ventral part of segment IX; t.IX+X = terga IX+X).