Polyplectropus ecuadoriensis, Chamorro & Holzenthal, 2010

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 162-164

Polyplectropus ecuadoriensis , new species

Figs. 82, 138

Polyplectropus ecuadoriensis resembles species in the P. laminatus subset ( P. laminatus (Yamamoto) and P. bravoae Bueno ). However, Polyplectropus ecuadoriensis differs from both species in having a digitate ventral branch with a longer, less acute apex of the dorsal branch of the inferior appendage (obdeltoid ventral branch, in ventral view, in P. laminatus and P. bravoae ), as well as having an apically concave and laterally produced intermediate appendage and longer endothecal phallic spines.

Adult. Length of forewing 4.2–4.6 mm, n=20. Color of head and thorax brown, legs yellowish-brown; setae on body brown with clusters of grey setae on apex of head; tegulae with long, golden brown and grey setae; setae on wings brown with scattered patches of golden setae.

Male genitalia. Sternum IX in lateral view deltoid, anterior margin convex, posterior margin submedially concave; in ventral view rectangular, anterior margin concave, becoming straight, posterior margin convex. Tergum X membranous, oblong, bearing dorsal microsetae; lower lip of tergum X membranous, smooth, without dorsal microsetae, elongate; in dorsal view emarginate; in caudal view produced dorsad of phallocrypt. Intermediate appendage as long as inferior appendage, quadrate, apex concave, with long basal setae and few scattered apically; in dorsal view broadest apically, slightly narrowing basally and produced basolaterad; in caudal view almost rectangular, broadening apically, directed mesally. Preanal appendage tripartite; dorsolateral process bulbous, originating from dorsum of mesolateral process, bearing dorsal microsetae; mesolateral process setose; in dorsal view obovate, in lateral view orbicular; mesoventral process setose; in lateral view hook-like, 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 slight basal, setose, dorsolateral digitate lobe. Inferior appendage bipartite with anterior basal plate extending anterad beyond sternum IX when observed in lateral view; dorsal branch setose, in lateral view clavate, subbasally slightly bent dorsad; in ventral view narrow, lateral margin convex, posterior margin subacute, mesal margin slightly undulate, concave, expanding posterad into ventral branch; ventral branch setose, elongate and broad, in lateral view oblong, broadly narrowing posterad; in ventral view digitate, mesal margin concave, shallowly converging mesally. Phallus long; dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view sinuate; apex of dorsal phallic sclerite in dorsal view subacute; dorsolateral arm of dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view broadening, apically curved dorsad; in dorsal view digitate, broadening apically, extending beyond apex of phallic sclerite, apex rounded; endothecal membrane with 2 stout, elongate, sclerotized spines, subapically bent.

Holotype male: ECUADOR: Sucumbios: Lago Agrio (5km N), 00°05'20"N, 76°52'09"W, 26.ix.1975, A Langley—( UMSP000107531 ) ( NMNH).

Paratypes: BOLIVIA: La Paz: A [rea] N[atural] [de] M[anejo] I[ntegrado] Madidi, Rio Tuichi at entrance to Chalalan lodge and tributary, 14°25'01"S, 067°54'23"W, 300 m, 29.vii.2003, Robertson and Blahnik — 8 males, 1 female ( UMSP) ; Santa Cruz: P[arque] N[acional] & A [rea] N[atural] [de] M[anejo] I[ntegrado] Amboró, Guarda Parque Mataracú, Confluence of Quebrada Verde Uno y Dos , 17°33'11"S, 63°52'09"W, 371 m, 23.xi.2004, Robertson, Garcia, Vidaurre — 32 males, 95 females ( UASC) ; 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, 19–23.xi.2004, Robertson, Garcia, Vidaurre — 5 males ( UMSP) ; ECUADOR: Cotopaxi: Latacunga , 133 km W, [00°55'59"S, 78°37'00"W], 329 m, 2.vii.1975, Langley & Cohen — 2 females ( NMNH) ; Napo: Tena , [00°59'00"S, 77°49'00"W], 25.v.1977, Spangler & Givens — 1 female ( NMNH) ; Tena (4 Kms S), [00°59'00"S, 77°49'00"W], 26.v.1977, Spangler & Givens — 2 females ( NMNH) ; Tena (17 Kms SW), [00°59'00"S, 77°49'00"W], 28.v.1977, Spangler & Givens — 1 male ( NMNH) ; Lago Agrio (48 Kms W), Rio Aguarico , [00°05'20"S, 76°52'09"W], 20.ix.1975, Langley & Cohen — 1 female ( NMNH) ; Pastaza: Est [ación] Fluv [ial] Metrica , Puyo (27 km N), [01°28'00"S, 77°58'59"W], 4.ii.1976, Spangler et al.— 1 male ( NMNH) ; Puyo: [1°28'00"S, 77°59'00"W], 1–7.ii.1976, Spangler et al.— 1 female ( NMNH) ; Sucumbios: Lago Agrio (5km N), [00°05'20"N, 076°52'09"W], 26.ix.1975, A Langley — 1 male, 1 female ( NMNH) ; Lago Agrio (18 kms E), Rio Aguarico , [00°05'20"N, 76°52'09"W], 23.ix.1975, A Langley — 1 female ( NMNH) .

Distribution. Bolivia and Ecuador.

Etymology. This species is named for the country of Ecuador where the holotype and several of the paratypes were collected.