Polyplectropus fuscatus Flint

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 121-122

Polyplectropus fuscatus Flint

Figs. 59, 140

Polyplectropus fuscatus Flint, 1983: 28 . [Type locality: Argentina, Pcia ,. Misiones, Arroyo Piray Guazú, N San Pedro ; NMNH; male].

Polyplectropus fuscatus can be distinguished from the other 2 species in the group by the absence of a dorsolateral process of the preanal appendage and by the fused mesoventral processes of the preanal appendage (free in P. tragularius and P. rondoniensis , new species). Polyplectropus fuscatus is most similar to P. tragularius , new species. Both species have a bipartite intermediate appendage, a pair of narrow, mediumsized endothecal phallic spines, and a dorsal, digitate lobe of the mesoventral process of the preanal appendage. These species also have similar inferior appendages, namely a pandurate dorsal branch. Polyplectropus fuscatus differs from P. tragularius in the rounded ventral lobe of the intermediate appendage (longer and apically broader in P. tragularius ) and in the rectangular ventral branch of the inferior appendage (oblong in P. tragularius ). Polyplectropus fuscatus also resembles P. beutelspacheri Bueno-Soria based on the absence of a dorsolateral process of the preanal appendage, on the shape of the inferior appendage, and on having a bipartite intermediate appendage. However, P. beutelspacheri does not have a dorsal digitate lobe on the mesoventral process of the preanal appendage, thus distinguishing it from all other species in the P. fuscatus group.

Adult. Length of forewing 4.2–5.1 mm, n = 22. Color of head, thorax, and legs brown; setae on wings dark-brown with grey and yellow setae.

Male genitalia. Sternum IX in lateral view deltoid, anterior margin entire, posterior margin sinuate; in ventral view rectangular, anterior margin highly concave, posterior margin with median flange. Tergum X membranous, oblong, bearing dorsal microsetae; lower lip of tergum X membranous, smooth, without dorsal microsetae, digitate; in dorsal view digitate; in caudal view produced dorsad of phallocrypt. Intermediate appendage not longer than inferior appendage, bipartite, digitate with mesoventral oblong lobe with long setae throughout; in dorsal view primary lobe oblong; in caudal view broadly digitate, secondary lobe rounded. Preanal appendage bipartite; small remnant of dorsolateral process of preanal appendage; mesolateral process setose; in dorsal view orbicular, in lateral view deltoid; mesoventral process setose; in lateral view hook-like, dorsally produced into digitate lobe with ventrad-directed sclerotized apex, ventral margin concave, posterior margin rounded; in caudal view apically fused to form a single continuous structure, with ventral margin emarginate. Inferior appendage bipartite with anterior basal plate not extending anterad beyond sternum IX when observed in lateral view; dorsal branch setose, in lateral view pandurate; in ventral view narrow, lateral margin angled, entire, posterior margin subacute, mesal margin slightly undulate, angled, expanding posterad into ventral branch; ventral branch setose, elongate, bearing a basal digitate lobe; in lateral view clavate, narrowing posterad and apically cuspidate; in ventral view subquadrate, mesal margin slightly angled, gradually converging mesally. Phallus long; dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view sinuate, apex curved dorsad; apex of dorsal phallic sclerite in dorsal view truncate; endothecal membrane with 2 thin, medium-sized spines.

Material examined. ARGENTINA: Misiones: San Pedro, A [rroy]o Piray-Guazú No. , [26°37'59"S, 54°07'59"W], 22.xi.1973, O S Flint — 1 male ( NMNH) [holotype] [“ USNM Type No. 100492”]; BRAZIL: Santa Catarina: Nova Teutônia, [27°03'00"S, 52°24'00"W], x.1963, F. Plaumann — 8 males, 1 female ( NMNH) [paratypes] ; Nova Teutônia , [27°11'00"S, 52°23'00"W], 300–500 m, xi.1963, F. Plaumann — 6 males ( NMNH) [paratypes] ; i.1964, F. Plaumann — 5 males ( NMNH) [paratypes] ; URUGUAY: Salto: Río Uruguay, Salto Grande , [31°22'59"S, 57°58'00"W], 10.xi.1955, C S Carbonell — 1 male ( FHCU) [paratype] .

Distribution. Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.