Plectoptera infulata Rehn and Hebard

Lu, Wenhua, Valentine, Barry D., Perez-Gelabert, Daniel E. & Gutiérrez, Esteban, 2014, Ecology and Diversity of Cockroaches (Dictyoptera: Blattaria) from the Virgin Islands, Insecta Mundi 2014 (349), pp. 1-32 : 18-19

16. Plectoptera infulata Rehn and Hebard ( Fig. 13 ), NEW RECORD

Plectoptera infulata Rehn and Hebard 1927: 314 ; Puerto Rico, Vieques Island. Diagnosis. Adults 6.5–7 mm, oval, with full tegmina in both sexes ; pale yellowish brown; pronotum in 6 of 12 specimens with dull white, opaque, lateral margins (transparent in 6 others); tegmina with major veins opaque but not white, cells lacking any complex reticulum as in P. rhabdota (Species 17); interocular space with a dark band above a pale field (in one specimen this entire area is brown); abdomen and cerci paler than those of congeners.

Comments. A unique feature of this genus is the hindwing, which, at rest, is folded forward so that the wing apex rests above and near the wing base, thus explaining the generic name where ‘ plectos’ means folded in Latin and ‘ ptera’ wings. Another unique feature is that the tegmina meet in a straight line down the back, overlap less than other cockroaches. Plectoptera infulata is a new record and second species in the genus from the Virgin Islands. It is arboreal and probably diurnal ( Table 1), not as common as P. rhabdota on Guana Island, suggesting a preference for wetter habitats. A female carried a partly visible oothecum in November 2001. It is herein recorded for the first time on Guana and Tortola of BVI in addition to a previous record from Puerto Rico ( Princis 1965).

Specimens examined. BDVC — 1 male, BVI, Tortola Is. , Chalwell, 470 m, VI-VII.2001, C. Petrovic, at light ; male/ 1 female [with oothecum], BVI, Tortola Is. , Chalwell, 470 m, XI.2001, C. Petrovic ; 2 males, BVI, Tortola Is., Chalwell, 16-24.X. 2003, 470 m, C. Petrovic, at light. NMNH — 1 specimen, BVI, Tortola Is. , Chalwell, 16/ 24.X.2003, C. Petrovic, at light. UDCC — 1 female [with oothecum], BVI, Guana Is., 26.X.1997, C. R. Bartlett ; 2 males, BVI, Tortola Is. , Sage Mt., 14.X.1993, C. Bartlett & J. Cryan ; 1 adult, BVI, Tortola Is. , 28.X.1997, C. Bartlett .

Figures

Figures 13–16. Blattellidae. 13) Plectoptera infulata adult from Tortola Island. 14) Plectoptera rhabdota adult from Guana Island. 15) Symploce pararuficollis adult from Guana Island. 16) Symploce ruficollis adult from Guana Island (all specimens in BDVC).