Plega, Navas, 1928

Ardila-Camacho, Adrian, Cancino-López, Rodolfo J., Acevedo, Fernando & Contreras-Ramos, Atilano, 2019, Four new species of Plega Navás, 1928 (Neuroptera: Mantispidae) from Mexico, Zootaxa 4612 (3), pp. 351-372 : 352-353

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4612.3.3
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FAC1C8CA-A39D-4E88-9863-69958E938540
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F48793-FFEF-0810-FF36-F880FA297D12
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Plega
status

Treatment

Key to Mexican species of Plega View in CoL View at ENA

(Modified from Ferris 1940; Linsley & MacSwain 1955; Rehn 1939; Parker & Stange 1965; Rice 1987).

Note: This key was produced only to identify male specimens of Mexican species of Plega . Females were obmitted, since none of the North American species of this genus have been described from this sex.

1. Antennae filiform, basal flagellomeres about as long as wide (Fig. 11a).......................................... 2

- Antennae submoniliform, basal flagellomeres discoidal ( Fig. 2a View FIGURE 2 )................................................ 5

2. Male ectoproct with thick and prominent spinous setae on posteroventral region ( Fig. 8c View FIGURE 8 ); male gonocoxites 9 tapering, lacking spines ( Figs. 9 View FIGURE 9 , 13c View FIGURE 13 )....................................................................... P. spinosa sp. n.

- Male ectoproct with thin setae on the entire surface; male gonocoxites 9 with apical spines........................... 3

3. Antennal flagellum completely pale brown (Fig. 11a); male gonocoxites 9 with 8–10 apical spines arranged in a bundle ( Figs. 12 View FIGURE 12 , 13d View FIGURE 13 )................................................................................. P. stangei sp. n.

- Antennal flagellum brown with 3–4 preapical pale articles; male gonocoxites 9 with 1–3 preapical spines............... 4

4. Male gonocoxite 9 with one short preapical spine (rarely an additional smaller one present) ( Fig. 14g View FIGURE 14 ); male sternite 8 with a posteromedian small tubercle................................................................... P. yucatanae View in CoL

- Male gonocoxite 9 with three preapical spines ( Fig. 14e View FIGURE 14 ); male sternite 8 without posteromedian tubercle...... P. melitomae View in CoL

5. Male gonocoxites 9 with 3–5 apical spines................................................................. 6

- Male gonocoxites 9 with 7–15 apical spines................................................................ 8

6. Male gonocoxites 9 with five intertwined apical spines ( Fig. 14c View FIGURE 14 )...................................... P. fratercula View in CoL

- Male gonocoxites with three apical spines.................................................................. 7

7. Male gonocoxites 9 with three apical curved and elongated spines subequal in length ( Fig. 14f View FIGURE 14 )................ P. signata View in CoL

- Male gonocoxites 9 with 3–4 subparallel, apical spines of different size ( Fig. 6 View FIGURE 6 , 13b View FIGURE 13 ).................... P. sonorae sp. n

8. Male gonocoxites 9 with 10–13 brush-like arranged apical spines ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 , 13a View FIGURE 13 )......................... P. mixteca sp. n

- Male gonocoxite with 7–15 apical spines arranged in a different form............................................ 9

9. Male gonocoxites 9 relatively stout distad, apical spines twisted ( Fig. 14b View FIGURE 14 )................................ P. dactylota View in CoL

- Male gonocoxites 9 relatively slender distad, with closely adpressed apical spines which are along the general axis of the gonocoxite............................................................................................. 10

10. Male gonocoxites 9 with seven apical spines ( Fig. 14a View FIGURE 14 )................................................. P. banksi View in CoL

- Male gonocoxites 9 with eight apical spines ( Fig. 14d View FIGURE 14 )................................................. P. fumosa View in CoL