Polyplectropus maesi Chamorro-Lacayo

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 94-96

Polyplectropus maesi Chamorro-Lacayo

Figs. 16B, 46, 128

Polyplectropus maesi Chamorro-Lacayo, 2003: 493 . [Type locality: Nicaragua, Zelaya , Río Las Latas; UMSP; male.]

This species very closely resembles P. kingsolveri Bueno-Soria. Both species have a very elongate dorsolateral process of the preanal appendage and evident dorsal and ventral branches of the intermediate appendage. However, P. maesi possesses an apical row of peg-like setae on the ventral branch of the inferior appendage (absent in P. kingsolveri ). Furthermore, the shape of the ventral branch is rather deltoid. The apex of the dorsal branch in P. maesi is emarginate and not rounded as in P. kingsolveri . This species can also be distinguished by the posteriorly produced mesoventral process of the preanal appendage (best viewed laterally).

Adult. Length of forewing 5–5.5 mm, n = 25. Color of head, thorax, and legs yellowish-brown (specimens preserved in alcohol).

Male genitalia. Sternum IX in lateral view deltoid, anterior margin sinuate and submedially produced, posterior margin sinuate and medially produced; in ventral view rectangular, anterior margin highly concave, posterior margin with slight median flange. Tergum X membranous, oblong, bearing dorsal microsetae. Intermediate appendage not longer than inferior appendage, narrowly digitate, setose; in dorsal view digitate, linear; in caudal view digitate, curved, directed posterolaterad. 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 oblong, in lateral view subquadrate; mesoventral process setose; in lateral view clavate, narrowing apically, with ventrad-directed sclerotized apex, anteroventral margin sinuate, posterior margin rounded; in caudal view processes separated, ventral margin of process undulate, with sclerotized point. Inferior appendage bipartite with anterior basal plate not extending anterad beyond sternum IX when observed in lateral view; dorsal branch setose, in lateral view clavate, apex emarginate; in ventral view narrow, lateral margin convex, entire, posterior margin emarginate, mesal margin entire, convex, expanding posterad into ventral branch; ventral branch setose, short, bearing row of robust, sclerotized spines along apex; in lateral view clavate, narrowing posterodorsad; in ventral view deltoid, posteromesal margin highly undulate, claw-like, gradually converging mesally. Phallus short; dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view cylindrical, apex oblong, narrow; endothecal membrane without embedded spines. When endothecal membrane becomes everted ventrolaterally it has 2 short, digitate lobes and an elongate, broader median lobe with bilobed apex. Ventrolateral lobes almost 1/3rd length and width of median lobe.

Material Examined. NICARAGUA: Región Autónoma Atlántico Norte [Zelaya]: Río Las Latas, 14°04'00"N, 88°33'00"W, 220 m, 2.vi.1998, Maes & Hernandez — 1 male [holotype] ( UMSP) ; PANAMA: Panama: Barro Colorado Island , Snyder-Molino Trail, marker 3 , 4–10.iii.1987, H. Wolda — 1 male ( NMNH) ; 13.i.1988 – 16.ii.1988, H. Wolda — 3 male, 1 female ( NMNH) ; 1–21.vi.1988, H. Wolda — 1 male ( NMNH) ; 10.viii.–18.x.1988, H. Wolda — 2 males ( NMNH) ; 15–28.ii.1989, H. Wolda — 2 male ( NMNH) ; 17.i.–6.iii.1990, H. Wolda — 4 males ( NMNH) ; 25.iv.–29.v.1990, H. Wolda — 3 males, 1 female ( NMNH) ; 12.ix.–1.xii.1990, H. Wolda — 2 males ( NMNH) ; 30.i.–5.ii.1991, H. Wolda — 1 male, 1 female ( NMNH) ; 1– 21.vi.1988, H. Wolda — 1 male, 1 female ( NMNH) .

Distribution. Nicaragua and Panama.