Polyplectropus alienus Bueno-Soria

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 47-49

Polyplectropus alienus Bueno-Soria

Figs. 20, 125, 133

Polyplectropus alienus Bueno-Soria, 1990: 373 . [Type locality: Mexico, Chiapas, Ocosingo, Finca El Real, Río Santa Cruz ; INHS; male].

Polyplectropus alienus is most similar to P. inarmatus Flint based on the membranous and broadly deltoid intermediate appendage, the shape of the dorsal branch of the inferior appendage, the shape of the mesoventral process of the preanal appendage, and the presence of elongate, robust sclerotized phallic spines. Polyplectropus alienus is distinguished from P. inarmatus by the more dorsally expanded apex (fused dorsolateral arms) of the dorsal phallic sclerite, by the elongate and deltoid ventral branch of the inferior appendage (quadrate in P. inarmatus ), and by the basally free endothecal spines (basally fused in P. inarmatus ).

Adult. Length of forewing 4–4.2 mm, n = 3. Color of head, thorax, and legs yellowish-brown. Specimen preserved in alcohol.

Male genitalia. Sternum IX in lateral view rounded to subquadrate, anterior margin supramedially convex, posterior margin entire; in ventral view rectangular, anterior margin concave, posterior margin entire. Tergum X membranous, oblong, bearing dorsal microsetae. Intermediate appendage not longer than inferior appendage, broad, membranous, with short setae medially and apically; in dorsal view deltoid, basally produced laterad, broadly rounded apically; in caudal view oblong, directed posterolaterad, meeting basomesally. Preanal appendage tripartite; dorsolateral process bulbous, originating from dorsum of mesolateral process, bearing dorsal microsetae; mesolateral process setose; in dorsal view orbicular, in lateral view deltoid; mesoventral process setose; in lateral view hook-like, with ventrad-directed sclerotized apex, anteroventral margin concave, posterior margin convex; in caudal view not fused basomesally, processes separated, ventral margin of process trilobed. 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, with posteroventral margin slightly produced; in ventral view broad, lateral margin apically produced, sinuate, posterior margin truncate, mesal margin slightly undulate, slightly convex, becoming concave, expanding posterad into ventral branch; ventral branch setose, elongate, in lateral view lanceolate, narrowing posteriorly; in ventral view deltoid, mesal margin straight, posterior margin subacute, gradually converging mesally. Phallus long; dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view sinuate, apex narrowed, dorsolateral arms of dorsal phallic sclerite fused apically, enlarged, subquadrate; apex of dorsal phallic sclerite in dorsal view acute ( Fig. 20F), subapically expanded laterad; endothecal membrane with 2 stout, elongate, sclerotized spines.

Female genitalia. Ventral plates of segment VIII setose, in ventral view narrowly oblong being almost 4 times longer than wide; in lateral view oblong; external part of gonopod of segment VIII in ventral view with posterior margin obtuse, in lateral view oblong; internal part of gonopod sclerotized, in ventral view oblong, not meeting mesally. Tergum IX devoid of setae, lightly sclerotized. Segment X setose, apically bearing a pair of sclerotized cerci surrounded by 2 pairs of membranous digitate processes. Genital chamber opening to processus spermathecae through sclerotized circular opening of ductus spermathecae.

BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz: P[arque] N[acional] & A [rea] N[atural] [de] M[anejo] I[ntegrado] Amboró, Guarda Parque Mataracú, Q [uebrada] Verde Uno , 17°33'14"S, 63°52'09"W, 374 m, 19–23.xi.2004, Robertson, Garcia, Vidaurre — 1 male ( UMSP) ; MEXICO: Chiapas: Ocosingo, Finca El Real, Río Santa Cruz , [16°24'00"N, 92°24'00"W], 1.vii.1950, C&M Goodnight, & L Stannard [“ INHS Trichop. 24589] [“HOLOTIPO”, white label]— 1 male [holotype] ( INHS), 1 female [paratype] ( INHS) .

Distribution. Bolivia and Mexico. The specimens examined from these 2 distant localities are identical.