Polyplectropus robacki (Yamamoto)

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 180-181

Polyplectropus robacki (Yamamoto)

Figs. 91, 131

Polycentropus robacki Yamamoto, 1966: 911 . [Type locality: Peru, Huanuco, Huallaga River, Tingo María; INHS; male].— Flint, 1968 b: 21 [to Polyplectropus ].

Polyplectropus robacki is similar to P. brborichorum , new species, P. bolivianus , new species, and P. andinensis , new species in the overall shape of the male genitalia, which is unique for this subset of species in that the dorsal branch of the inferior appendage is thin and recurved. Polyplectropus robacki differs from these species in the more linear intermediate appendage (being more robust in P. bolivianus and P. andinensis and digitate in P. brborichorum ). In addition, P. robacki lacks endothecal phallic spines (present in P. bolivianus ).

Adult. Length of forewing 5–7 mm, n=2. Color of head, thorax, and legs brown; setae on body grey and yellow; tegulae with long, golden brown and grey setae; setae on wings golden brown along costal margin with patches of grey setae interspersed along margin and on most of wing surface.

Male genitalia. Sternum IX in lateral view deltoid, anterior margin convex, posterior margin sinuate and submedially concave; in ventral view broadly deltoid, anterior margin concave, posterior margin highly convex. Tergum X membranous, oblong, bearing dorsal microsetae; lower lip of tergum X membranous, smooth, without dorsal microsetae, digitate; in dorsal view obtuse; in caudal view produced dorsad of phallocrypt. Intermediate appendage longer than inferior appendage, rod-like and stout, with long basal setae; in dorsal view basally broad, tapering into curved lanceolate rods, directed laterad; in caudal view lanceolate, curved, laterally flattened, narrowing and becoming sclerous apically, directed medially, with apex curved posterolaterad. Preanal appendage tripartite; dorsolateral process bulbous originating from dorsum of mesolateral process, bearing dorsal microsetae; mesolateral process setose; in dorsal view ovate, in lateral view deltoid; mesoventral process setose; in lateral view hook-like, with basodorsal digitate lobe, with ventrad-directed sclerotized apex, ventral margin concave, posterior margin rounded; in caudal view not fused basomesally, processes separated, ventral margin of process acute, with basal, digitate, setose dorsolateral projection. Inferior appendage bipartite with anterior basal plate extending anterad beyond sternum IX when observed in lateral view; dorsal branch setose, in lateral view lanceolate, basally setose and broader, becoming highly curved, directed anterad beyond half of IX segment, recurved posteromesally; in ventral view narrow, basally sclerotized with digitate, laterally directed lobe, narrowing and recurving apically, expanding posterad into ventral branch; ventral branch setose, basally broad, in lateral view obovate, rounded posterad; in ventral view subquadrate, mesal margin straight, posterior margin rounded to truncate, shallowly converging mesally. Phallus short; dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view cylindrical, apex pandurate; apex of dorsal phallic sclerite in dorsal view acute; endothecal membrane without embedded spines.

Material examined. PERU: Cuzco: Paucartambo, Paucartambo to Pilcopata rd. , streamlet 50 m E Quita Calzon , 1050 m, 26.vi.1993, Blahnik & Pescador — 1 male ( NMNH); Huanuco: Tingo Maria, Huallaga River , 24–27.ix.1955, Roback — 1 male ( INHS) [holotype] .

Distribution. Peru.

Remarks. The holotype is in moderately poor condition. The inferior appendage has become detached from the rest of the genital capsule.