Polyplectropus exilis Chamorro-Lacayo & Holzenthal

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 116-118

Polyplectropus exilis Chamorro-Lacayo & Holzenthal

Figs. 57, 123

Polyplectropus exilis Chamorro-Lacayo & Holzenthal, 2004: 205 . [Type locality: Costa Rica, Reserva Tapantí , Quebrada Segunda at administration building; UMSP; male].

Polyplectropus exilis is the most distinct species in the group and can be distinguished from P.charlesi (Ross) and P.kylistos Chamorro-Lacayo & Holzenthal by the absence of peg-like setae on either the dorsal or ventral branches of the inferior appendage, by the absence of endothecal phallic spines, by the acute apex of the mesoventral process of the preanal appendage, and by the presence of a narrow, lightly sclerotized process between the dorsal and ventral branches. This species resembles P. charlesi in the presence of a pronounced ventral median projection of sternum IX, a lobate, rounded intermediate appendage, and comparable dorsal branches of the inferior appendage.

Adult. Length of forewing 5–5.9 mm, n = 20. Color of head, thorax, and legs yellowish-brown; setae on body brown with clusters of grey setae on apex of head; tegulae with long erect brown setae; setae on wings brown with scattered patches of golden setae.

Male genitalia. Sternum IX in lateral view deltoid, anterior margin sinuate, posterior margin submedially concave; in ventral view rectangular, anterior margin concave, posterior margin with pronounced medial projection. Tergum X membranous, oblong, bearing dorsal microsetae; lower lip of tergum X membranous, smooth, without dorsal microsetae, digitate; in dorsal view digitate; in caudal view produced dorsad of phallocrypt. Intermediate appendage not longer than inferior appendage, digitate, setose; in dorsal view basally broad, tapering mesally to rounded apex; in caudal view digitate, directed posteromesad; median papillate lobe very small, flanking phallocrypt laterally, bearing small apical setae. Preanal appendage bipartite; mesolateral process setose; in dorsal view ovate, in lateral view deltoid; mesoventral process setose; in lateral view hook-like, with ventrad-directed sclerotized apex, ventral margin concave, posterior margin convex; in caudal view processes separated, ventral margin of process acute, with basolateral margin produced laterad. Inferior appendage bipartite with anterior basal plate not extending anterad beyond sternum IX when observed in lateral view; dorsal branch setose, in lateral view pandurate, posteroventrally produced; in ventral view narrow, lateral margin subapically produced, sinuate, posterior margin subacute, mesal margin slightly undulate, subapically expanded, becoming concave, expanding posterad into ventral branch, dorsal branch with lightly sclerotized, lanceolate process arising between dorsal and ventral branches, directed posteromesally, longer than ventral branch (medial process broken in some paratypes); ventral branch setose, short, in lateral view lanceolate, narrowing posterad; in ventral view deltoid, posteromesal margin rounded, gradually converging mesally. Phallus long; dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view cylindrical, apex oblong; apex of dorsal phallic sclerite in dorsal view rounded; endothecal membrane without embedded spines, phallobase bearing dorsal microsetae.

Material examined. COSTA RICA: Alajuela: Reserva Forestal San Ramón , Río San Lorencito & trib[utarie]s, 10°12'58"N, 84°36'25"W, 980 m, 30.iii.–1.iv.1987, Holzenthal, Hamilton & Heyn— 1 male (UMSP); Cartago: Reserva Tapantí, Quebrada Segunda @ administration building, 9°45'40"N, 83°47'13"W, 1250 m, 9–10.v.1990, Holzenthal & Blahnik— 1 male (UMSP); Puntarenas: Río Cotón, in Las Alturas, 8°56'17"N, 82°49'34"W, 1360 m, 18.iii.1991, Holzenthal, Muñoz & Huisman— 1 male (UMSP); Río Guineal, ca 1 km (air) E Finca Helechales, 9°04'34"N, 83°05'31"W, 840 m, 22.ii.1986, Holzenthal, Morse & Fasth— 4 males (UMSP); same, 4.viii.1987, Holzenthal, Morse & Clausen— 3 males, 4 females (UMSP); Río Singrí, ca 2 km (air) S Finca Helechales, 9°03'25"N, 83°04'55"W, 720 m, 21.ii.1986, Holzenthal Morse & Fasth— 6 males (UMSP).

Distribution. Costa Rica.