Polyplectropus recurvatus (Yamamoto)

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 213-216

Polyplectropus recurvatus (Yamamoto)

Figs. 110–112, 135

Polycentropus recurvatus Yamamoto, 1966 : [Type locality: Colombia, Tolima, 18 mi. W Honda; CAS found in INHS; male.]— Flint, 1968 b:21 [to Polyplectropus ].

Polyplectropus recurvatus is most similar to P. puyoensis , new species in the overall shape of the intermediate and preanal appendages. Polyplectropus recurvatus can be distinguished from P. puyoensis and other species of the group by the shape of the inferior appendage, having a short ventral branch and an oblong dorsal branch. The ventral branches of the inferior appendages are closer to each other (farther apart in P. puyoensis ) (best viewed in ventral view). Futhermore, the intermediate appendage and mesoventral process of the preanal appendage are broader in P. recurvatus .

Adult. Length of forewing 4.3 mm, n = 5. Color of head and thorax brown, 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 sinuate, posterior margin sinuate; in ventral view rectangular, anterior margin concave, posterior margin with slight median flange. Tergum X membranous, oblong, bearing dorsal microsetae. Intermediate appendage not longer than inferior appendage, stout, with long and short setae throughout; in dorsal view broad, tapering mesoventrally to rounded apex; in caudal view digitate, elongate, apically curved, directed posteromesad; median papillate lobe small, flanking phallocrypt laterally, bearing small apical setae. Preanal appendage tripartite; dorsolateral process elongate, originating from dorsum of mesolateral process, directed anterad, recurved posteromesad then posterolaterad, tapering mesally into acute apex; mesolateral process setose; in dorsal view digitate, apex tapering posterad (shape of apex may vary), 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 slightly separated, ventral margin of process rounded (may appear truncate in some). 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 ventral margin undulate; in ventral view narrow, lateral margin with submedial flange, entire, mesal margin undulate, straight, becoming concave, expanding posterad into ventral branch, variable form with apical stout, spine-like setae; ventral branch setose, short, bearing 4–7 robust, sclerotized spines basally and apically; in lateral view deltoid, narrowing posterad; in ventral view deltoid, posteromesal margin convex, gradually converging mesally. Phallus short; dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view sinuate, apex pandurate; apex of dorsal phallic sclerite in dorsal view emarginate to rounded; dorsolateral arm of dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view tapering subapically; in dorsal view tapering subapically; endothecal membrane without embedded spines.

Female genitalia. Typical of species group. Material Examined. COLOMBIA: Tolima: 18 mi. W Honda , 16.iii.1955, Schlinger & Ross — 1 male [holotype] ( INHS) ; ECUADOR: Cotopaxi: Latacunga , 133 km W, 329 m, 2.vii.1975, Langley & Cohen — 1 male, 3 females [variant] ( NMNH) ; Los Rios, Quevedo (56 km N), Rio Palenque Biological Station , 250 m, 28–29.vii.1976, J. Cohen — 1 male [variant] ( NMNH) ; VENEZUELA: Lara: Parque Nacional Terepaima, Río Auro near Sabana Alta , 9°44'44"N, 69°16'37"W, 480 m, 16.vi.2001, Holzenthal Blahnik, Paprocki & Cressa — 1 male [variant] ( UMSP) .

Distribution. Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela.

Remarks. Polyplectropus recurvatus from Ecuador differs from the Colombian and Venezuelan forms by the presence of elongate, apical spine-like setae on the dorsal branch of the inferior appendage ( Fig. 111). The Venezuelan form differs from the Colombian form only in minor variations in the shapes of the intermediate appendage, inferior appendage, and the mesoventral process of the preanal appendage. The only specimen from Ecuador is slightly damaged and several features of the male genitalia were difficult to observe. Type was never deposited at CAS, currently at INHS.