Polyplectropus clauseni Chamorro-Lacayo & Holzenthal, 2004

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 82-85

Polyplectropus clauseni Chamorro-Lacayo & Holzenthal

Figs. 15E, 38C, 39, 40, 127

Polyplectropus clauseni, Chamorro-Lacayo & Holzenthal, 2004: 202 . [Type locality: COSTA RICA: Alajuela: Cerro Campana, Rio Bochinche , tributary, 6 km (air) NW Dos Rios; UMSP; male.]

This species is most similar to P. brasilensis , new species in the overall shape of the inferior appendage, in the presence of a dorsolateral process of the preanal appendage, and in the overall shape of the phallus. Polyplectropus clauseni can be distinguished from P. brasilensis and all other species in the group by the broad and largely membranous intermediate appendage, by the subquadrate dorsolaterally produced mesoventral processes of the preanal appendage bearing apical peg-like setae, and by the presence of a prominent papillate lobe.

Adult. Length of forewing 5.1 mm, n = 4. Color of head, thorax, and legs yellowish-brown; 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 sinuate and supramedially convex, posterior margin submedially produced and becoming concave ventrally; in ventral view rectangular, anterior margin entire to sinuate, posterior margin with median flange and submedially deeply concave. Tergum X membranous, oblong, bearing dorsal microsetae. Intermediate appendage not longer than inferior appendage, broad, membranous and with ventral digitate projection and long setae basally and apically; in dorsal view digitate to clavate, elongate; in caudal view clavate, produced posteroventrad and entire appendage produced posterad and ventromesally; median papillate lobe flanking phallocrypt laterally, bearing small apical setae intermediate appendage apparently fused to mesoventral process of preanal appendage. Preanal appendage tripartite; dorsolateral process elongate, originating from dorsum of mesolateral process, directed anterad, recurved posteromesad then posterolaterad, tapering mesally into acute apex; mesolateral process setose; in dorsal view sickle-shaped, in lateral view orbicular; mesoventral process setose; in lateral view hook-like or subquadrate, mesoventral process dorsally fused to intermediate appendage with dorsolateral expanded lobe with narrowed apex, process with ventrad-directed sclerotized apex, anteroventral margin angled to concave, posterior margin angled to concave; in caudal view fused basomesally, processes separated apically, ventral margin of process undulate, with many sclerotized, peg-like setae. Inferior appendage bipartite with anterior basal plate not extending anterad beyond sternum IX when observed in lateral view; dorsal branch setose, in lateral view oblong, directed posterodorsad; in ventral view broad, lateral margin convex, entire, posterior margin acute, mesal margin entire, concave, shallowly fused to ventral branch; ventral branch setose, short and broad, bearing robust, sclerotized spines apically; in lateral view oblong and almost forming a continuous structure with dorsal branch, rounded posterad; in ventral view deltoid, mesal margin slightly concave, gradually converging mesally. Phallus short; dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view sinuate, apex oblong; lateral projection of phallobase in lateral view cylindrical, with truncate apex; endothecal membrane without embedded spines, membranous basodorsally.

Female genitalia. Ventral plates of segment VIII setose, in ventral view narrowly oblong, narrowly fused to sternite VIII; external part of gonopod of segment VIII in ventral view with posterior margin rounded. 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.

Material Examined. COSTA RICA: Alajuela: Cerro Campana, Rio Bochinche , tributary, 6 km (air) NW Dos Rios , 10°54'00"N, 85°24'00"W, 640 m, 22–23.vii.1987, Holzenthal, Morse & Clausen — 1 male ( UMSP) [holotype] ; Guanacaste: Río Los Ahogados , 11.3 km ENE Quebrada Grande, 10°51'54"N, 85°25'23"W, 470 m, 7.iii.1986, Holzenthal & Fasth — 1 male ( NMNH) [paratype] ; Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja, Quebrada Agua Apinolada, 10°47'42"N, 85°17'31"W, 795 m, 25.vi.1986, Holzenthal, Heyn & Armitage — 1 male ( UMSP) [paratype] ; PANAMA: Panama: Barro Colorado Island, Snyder-Molino Trail , marker 3, 3–9.viii.1988, H. Wolda — 1 male ( NMNH) ; 25–31.i.1989, H. Wolda — 1 female ( NMNH) ; 13– 19.ii.1991, H. Wolda — 1 male ( NMNH) .

Distribution. Costa Rica and Panama.