Polyplectropus charlesi (Ross)

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 113-116

Polyplectropus charlesi (Ross)

Figs. 15C, 56, 123

Polycentropus charlesi Ross, 1941: 74 . [Type locality: United States, Texas, San Felipe Springs, Del Rio; INHS; male];— Flint, 1968:21 [to Polyplectropus ].

Polyplectropus charlesi is most similar to P. kylistos based on the pronounced ventral median projection of sternum IX, the lobate, rounded intermediate appendage, the broadly separated ventral branches of the inferior appendage, and the overall shape of the dorsal branch of the inferior appendage. In addition, P.charlesi and P. kylistos bear peg-like setae on both branches of the inferior appendage (absent in P. exilis ). Some specimens of P. charlesi with an apically narrowed dorsal branch have subapical spines on a small membranous stalk, similar to those found in P. kylistos . However, in P. kylistos these stalked spines are located more basally and proximal to the ventral branch. Polyplectropus charlesi can also be distinguished from P. kylistos by the shorter, apically rounded ventral branch of the inferior appendage, by the broader and sometimes slightly narrower and less arched dorsal branch of the inferior appendage, by the less acute apices of the mesoventral process of the preanal appendage, and by the posteriorly directed endothecal phallic spines (directed laterad in P. kylistos ).

Adult. Length of forewing 3.5–7.8 mm, n = 213. Color of head, thorax, and legs yellowish-brown.

Male genitalia. Sternum IX in lateral view rounded, anterior margin highly convex, posterior margin submedially concave and ventrally produced; in ventral view rectangular, anterior margin concave, posterior margin with pronounced median projection. Tergum X membranous, oblong, bearing dorsal microsetae; lower lip of tergum X membranous, smooth, without dorsal microsetae, digitate; in dorsal view emarginate; in caudal view produced dorsad of phallocrypt. Intermediate appendage not longer than inferior appendage, digitate, with long setae throughout; in dorsal view broad, tapering mesoventrally to subacute apex; in caudal view digitate, curved, directed mesally; median papillate lobe very small, flanking phallocrypt laterally, bearing small apical setae. Preanal appendage bipartite; apparently with basal remnant of dorsolateral process of preanal appendage; mesolateral process setose; in dorsal view oblong, in lateral view orbicular; mesoventral process setose; in lateral view digitate, directed ventrad, anteroventral margin concave, posterior margin convex; in caudal view ventral margin of process truncate, bearing sclerotized spines. 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, curved ventrad, variant form lanceolate and curved ventrad, bearing 1–2 sclerotized spines; in ventral view narrow, lateral margin convex, entire, posterior margin subacute, mesal margin sinuate, straight, becoming concave, expanding posterad into ventral branch; ventral branch setose, short, bearing apical sclerotized spine; in lateral view ovate; in ventral view rounded, mesal margin concave, gradually converging mesally, ventral branches greatly separated mesally from each other. Phallus long; dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view sinuate, apex curved dorsad; apex of dorsal phallic sclerite in dorsal view truncate; dorsolateral arm of dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view digitate; in dorsal view digitate, not extending beyond apex of phallic sclerite, apex rounded; endothecal membrane with 2 medium-sized, lightly sclerotized spines.

Material examined. MEXICO: Durango: Peñon Blanco (La Concha), [24°47'23"N, 104°02'12"W], 16.vii.1985, E Barrera— 1 male (IBUNAM); Guerrero: Río Bejucos, [17°11'00"N, 99°24'00"W], 8.vii.1999, A Rojas, & R. Gavino— 1 male (IBUNAM); Michoacán: Apatzingan, W. of Apatzingan 5 mi, 19°04'59"N, 102°20'59"W, 366 m, 13.viii.1941, Hoogstraal— 1 male; Aguililla, 31.vii.1985, R Barba, & F Arias— 1 male; Oaxaca: Tuxtepec, 18°06'00"N, 96°07'00"W, 5.xii.1933, M. Fraire— 1 male; Putla, Río Las Peñas, [17°02'00"N, 97°56'00"W], 3.iii.1986, E. Mariño— 1 male, 1 female (IBUNAM); Chiltepec, [16°08'59"N, 95°55'59"W], 11.xii.1937, A. Dampf— 1 male (INHS); Totoltepec, [15°53'51"N, 96°28'37"W], 2.xi.1987, R. Barba, F. Arias, E. Barrera— 1 male (IBUNAM); Puebla: Cuetzalan Rancho Pahuata 14.6 km de Cuetzalan, [20°02'00"N, 97°31'00"W], 29.vi.1996, Contreras and Barba— 1 male, 3 females (IBUNAM); San Luis Potosí: Tamazunchale, [21°16'00"N, 98°46'59"W], 29.iii.1951, Lattin & Walker— 1 male; Palitla, [21°16'00"N, 98°49'59"W], 5.viii.1966, O S Flint— 1 male, 2 females (NMNH); 2 km S of Tamasunchale (R. 1 km 363), [21°16'00"N, 098°47'00"W], 213 m, 31.v.1948, W. Nutting & F Werner— 1 male; Tamaulipas: Santa Engracia (Hacienda), [24°01'00"N, 99°12'00"W], 21.iii.1936, A. Dampf— 1 male (INHS); 9.iii.1939, CCP— 2 males (INHS); 44 mi. N. Ciudad Victoria, [23°43'00"N, 99°07'59"W], 16.viii.1953, R. B. & J.M. Selander— 1 male (INHS); Veracruz: Chicontepec, [20°58'00"N, 98°10'00"W], 14.x.1975, J Bueno-Soria— 1 male (IBUNAM); Tebanca 15 km S.E. Estacion de Biología Los Tuxtlas, [18°23'00"N, 95°00'00"W], 3.iii.1988 Barba & Barrera— 5 males, 5 females (IBUNAM); Catemaco, Tebanca, [18°25'00"N, 95°07'00"W], E Barrera— 1 male (IBUNAM); Los Tuxtlas, Río La Palma, 2.xii.1988, H & R Barba— 1 male (IBUNAM); UNITED STATES: Arizona: Apache Co., 5 mi W Eagar, Little Colorado R., [34°06'40"N, 109°17'27"W], 29.vi.1961, Kingsolver— 2 males (INHS); Yavapai Co., Converg. Oak Cr. & Verde R., [34°33'42"N, 112°22'58"W], 10.ix.1976, Sanderson— 1 female (INHS); Texas: Bandera County, Winans Creek@ TX Hwy16 ca. 4 mi N. Bandera, 29°43'35"N, 99°04'24"W, 12.iv.1992, Moulton & Stewart— 11 males (DRC); Blanco Co., Pedernales River, in Pedernales Falls State Park, downstream falls @ picnic area, 30°05'52"N, 98°25'16"W, 244 m, 24.vii.1985, Brigham & Brower— 5 males (INHS); Guadalupe Co., San Marcos River @ TX 1979 bridge, S. Martindale, ca 5 mi. ESE I-35 @ San Marcos (city), 29°49'56"N, 97°50'30"W, 149 m, 5.ix.1986, AR Brigham— 18 males (INHS); Hays Co., San Marcos River in San Marcos , Rio Vista Dam @ Cheatham Street/Houston Rd., 29°52'45"N, 97°55'55"W, 171 m, AR Brigham— 1 male (INHS); Kerr Co., North Fork, Guadalupe River @ TX1340 about 7 mi w intersection of TX1340 & TX 39 (Bee Caves Creek), 30°03'25"N, 99°25'10"W, 561 m, 23.vii.1985, Brigham & Brower— 1 male (INHS); North Fork, Guadalupe River @ TX 1340 1 mi W Intersection of TX 1340/TX 39, 30°04'25"N, 99°21'17"W, 536 m, Brigham & Brower— 1 male (INHS); [Val Verde County], San Felipe Springs, Del Rio, [29°22'06"N, 100°53'06"W], 19.iv.1939, H. H & J. A. Ross— 1 male (INHS) [holotype] [“INHS Trichop. 24566”].

Specimens examined of variable forms of P.charlesi : MEXICO: Chiapas: nr. Pijijiapan , 5.vii.1965, P J Spangler — 1 male, 1 female ( NMNH) ; Chintul, Río Chintul (trib. R. Grijalva ) Rt. 187, 17°14'33"N, 93°35'07"W, 20.ix.1996, Bueno-Soria, Barba, Contreras — 6 males ( IBUNAM) ; Durango: Peñon Blanco, Balneario Belem , [24°47'23"N, 104°02'13"W], 1640 m, 10.vii.1985, E Barrera — 6 males, 2 females ( IBUNAM) ; Oaxaca: Valle Nacional , [17°46'59"N, 96°19'00"W], 2.iii.1932, A. Dampf — 3 males ( INHS) ; Putla, Río Las Peñas , [17°02'00"N, 97°56'00"W], 3.iii.1983, E Mariño — 1 male, 1 female ( IBUNAM) ; Rancho Monter , [16°53'53"N, 96°24'51"W], 14.xii.1937, A. Dampf — 3 males ( INHS) ; 16.xii.1937, A. Dampf — 2 males ( INHS) ; Chiltepec , [16°08'59"N, 95°55'59"W], 9.xii.1937, A. Dampf — 2 males ( INHS) ; 11.xii.1937, A. Dampf — 2 males ( INHS) ; Tabasco: Municipio Huimanguillo, Est. 10, Arroyo Las Flores , Villa de Gpe. 2 Secc. Los Chimalapas , km 5 +920 carr, Malpasito-Carlos A. Madrazo , 17°22'03"N, 93°36'15"E, 25.iii.1998, Bueno-Soria & Barba — 8 males, 3 females ( IBUNAM) ; Río Teapa, Villahermosa , [17°59'00"N, 92°55'00"W], 6.v.1985, H. Velasco — 9 males, 2 females ( IBUNAM) ; Veracruz: Ocotal, Texisapa , [20°36'00"N, 98°19'00"W], 8.xii.1985, R Barba — 1 male ( IBUNAM) ; Tebanca 15 km S.E. Estacion de Biología Los Tuxtlas , [18°23'00"N, 95°00'00"W], 3.iii.1988, Barba & Barrera — 38 males, 1 female ( IBUNAM) ; Catemaco, Tebanca , [18°25'00"N, 95°07'00"W], R Barba, et al.— 16 males, 7 females ( IBUNAM) ; UNITED STATES: Arizona: Coconino Co., Oak Cr. Grasshopper Pt. , [35°59'00"N, 112°11'51"W], 12.vii.1977, Sanderson — 1 male ( INHS) ; Oak Cr. Chavez Crossing, [35°59'40"N, 112°11'00"W], 20.vi.1961, Kingsolver — 2 males ( INHS) ; 20.vii.1977, Sanderson — 1 male ( INHS) ; 20.vi.1961, Kingsolver — 2 females ( INHS) ; Navajo County, 9 mi. N. White River, North Fork White River , nr Roberts Ranch , [35°07'27"N, 109°32'15"W], 28.vi.1961, Kingsolver — 2 males, 5 females ( INHS) ; Yavapai Co., Oak Cr. at Mormon Crossing , 34°37'01"N, 110°47'13"W, 3–4.v.1984, Sanderson — 2 males, 1 female ( INHS) ; Converg. Oak Cr. & Verde R., [34°33'42"N, 112°22'58"W], 3.viii.1978, Sanderson — 1 male ( INHS) ; Oak Cr., Page Spgs. , [34°46'03"N, 111°53'34"W], 14.vii.1977, Sanderson — 1 male, 1 female ( INHS) .

Distribution. Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and USA ( Flint et al. 1999).

Remarks. The dorsal branch of the inferior appendage varies across the entire range of this species. The holotype has an apically broader dorsal branch of the inferior appendage, becoming narrower in other specimens. Even though the different forms have been collected from the same localities, no 2 forms were collected together. The observed variability of the dorsal branch among the specimens examined was not discrete, but instead was continuous. When the dorsal branch is apically broad, 2 (or sometimes more) apical spines are present. In the narrower dorsal branches, these spines are retained but the more basal spine also retains a small basal process or stub. This spine-and-stub complex resembles those present on the inferior appendage of P. kylistos ( Fig. 58A). However, in P. kylistos the spine-and-stub complex is basal and closer to the ventral branch.