Polyplectropus misolja Bueno-Soria

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 99-101

Polyplectropus misolja Bueno-Soria

Figs. 17B, 49, 124

Polyplectropus misolja Bueno-Soria, 1990: 374 . [Type locality: Mexico, Chiapas, Cascada Misolja , 20 km S Palenque: NMNH; male.]

Polyplectropus misolja is most similar to P. bredini in the shape of the intermediate appendage, the mesolateral and mesoventral processes of the preanal appendage and in the overall shape of the phallus and ventral branch of the inferior appendage. However, P. misolja can be distinguished from P. bredini by the presence of a dorsolateral process of the preanal appendage and by the presence of small spines above the dorsal phallic sclerite, a character absent in all other species in the genus. In addition, the dorsal branch of the inferior appendage is narrow basally in P. misolja and the apical spines are shorter than in P. bredini . Furthermore, P.misolja has a membranous shelf originating from the intermediate appendage surrounding the phallocrypt.

Adult. Length of forewing 4.5–5 mm, n = 5. Color of head, thorax, and legs yellowish-brown; setae on body grey and golden brown; tegulae with long, golden brown and grey setae; setae on wings darker brown along costal margin, remainder of wing lighter shade of brown with scattered patches of grey setae.

Male genitalia. Sternum IX in lateral view deltoid, anterior margin submedially produced, posterior margin sinuate; in ventral view rectangular, anterior margin concave, posterior margin with median flange. Tergum X membranous, oblong, bearing dorsal microsetae; lower lip of tergum X membranous, smooth, digitate; in dorsal view digitate; in caudal view membrane surrounding phallocrypt. Intermediate appendage as long as inferior appendage, narrowly digitate with long setae throughout; in dorsal view digitate, linear; in caudal view digitate, directed posterolaterad. Preanal appendage tripartite; dorsolateral process elongate, originating from dorsum of mesolateral process, recurved posterad, tapering mesally into acute apex; mesolateral process setose; in dorsal view oblong, in lateral view orbicular; mesoventral process setose, in lateral view quadrate with ventrad-directed sclerotized apex, ventral margin concave, posterior margin truncate; in caudal view processes separated, ventral margin of process rounded, basally broad. 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, subapically produced dorsad, apically bearing 3–4 sclerotized spines; in ventral view narrow, lateral margin straight, posterior margin subacute, mesal margin entire, expanding posterad into ventral branch; ventral branch setose, short, bearing a row of 4–7 robust, sclerotized spines along posterior margin; in lateral view clavate, rounded posterad; in ventral view subquadrate, posteromesal margin rounded, gradually converging mesally. Phallus long; dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view cylindrical, apex pandurate to oblong; apex of dorsal phallic sclerite in dorsal view emarginate; endothecal membrane without embedded spines, but with 3 short, sclerotized spines dorsad of phallic sclerite, apparently on a dorsal membrane.

Material Examined. MEXICO: Campeche: Calakmul, Ejdo. N [ue]vo. Becan, El Chorro , 18°35'25"N, 89°15'29"W, 130 m, 30.iv.1997, Contreras, Gonzalez, Ibarra, Martinez — 2 males ( IBUNAM) ; Chiapas: Cascada Misolja , 20 km S Palenque, 17–18.v.1981 C & O Flint — 2 males [holotype] ( NMNH) ; UNITED STATES: Texas: Real County, Frío River, Leakey , 9.vi.1994, R. Garano — 1 male ( DRC) .

Distribution. Mexico and USA (Texas).