Polycentropus acinaciformis Hamilton & Holzenthal

Hamilton, Steven W. & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2011, Twenty-four new species of Polycentropus (Trichoptera, Polycentropodidae) from Brazil, ZooKeys 76, pp. 1-53 : 35-37

Polycentropus acinaciformis Hamilton & Holzenthal sp. n. Fig. 19

Description.

Polycentropus acinaciformis sp. n.appears to belong to the jorgenseni species complex based on the presence of the apicoventral process of the phallobase and the endothecal sclerotic band, but it lacks the intermediate appendages and there is no evidence of the subphallic sclerite. The decurved, blade-like mesolateral process of the preanal appendage as well as the shape of the inferior appendage and the claw-like process in the endotheca distinguish this species from other Neotropical Polycentropus .

Adult. Length of forewing (male) 6.5 mm. Body brown; dorsum of head and thorax brown, clothed with long, erect dark setae; base of forewing with long, erect dark setae, general vestiture of forewing with fine brown setae (in alcohol); legs brown.

Male. Genitalia as in Fig. 19. Sternum IX in lateral view broadly subtriangular to oval, about 2/3 height of segment VIII; in ventral view slightly trapezoidal, anterior corners very sharply rounded, sides slightly constricted mesally, anterior margin moderately concave, posterior margin shallowly concave. Terga IX + X membranous. Intermediate appendage absent. Mesolateral process of preanal appendage very long, broadest at midpoint, apex acuminate, at base narrowly joined to dorsal portion of mesoventral process; mesoventral process directed ventrocaudad, digitate, less than 1/4 length of mesolateral process. Inferior appendage in lateral view short, quadrate; dorsolateral flange very low, straight dorsally, with prominent caudomesal spine, exposed in lateral view; mesoventral spine absent; in ventral view inferior appendage broad basally, slender, tapering apically, caudomesal spine prominent, acute. Phallobase moderately elongate; in lateral view apicoventral projection narrow, approximately equal to apical diameter of phallobase apex, with 1 point; endothecal sclerotic band broad, ending in 2 recurved hooks; endothecal spines absent; phallotremal sclerite wide in dorsal aspect. Subphallic sclerite absent.

Holotype male:

BRAZIL: Minas Gerais: Serra do Cipó, Capão da Mata, 19°19.347'S, 43°32.249'W, 1170 m, 13-14.ii.1998, Holzenthal & Paprocki (UMSP000033119) (MZUSP).

Paratype:

BRAZIL: Minas Gerais: Parque Estadual do Rio Preto, trib to Rio Preto, 18°06.879'S, 43°20.595'W, 700 m, 20.v.1998, Holzenthal & Paprocki, 1 male (UMSP).

Etymology.

From the Latin words acinaces (Greek akinakes) for scimitar and forma for shape, in reference to the sword-like shape of the mesolateral process of the preanal appendage.