Polyplectropus beccus Hamilton & Holzenthal

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 224-226

Polyplectropus beccus Hamilton & Holzenthal

Fig. 117

Polyplectropus beccus Hamilton & Holzenthal, 2005: 11 . [Type locality: Venezuela, T. F. Amazonas [=Estado Amazonas]: Puerto Ayacucho (40 km S), El Tobogan, Caño Coromoto; NMNH; male].

As indicated by Hamilton & Holzenthal (2005) this is a very distinctive species. The bifurcate, beak-like apex of the intermediate appendage, having a sclerotized dorsal lobe and a more slender, less pigmented, closely appressed ventral lobe, sets this species apart from all others in the genus. Furthermore, the mesoventral processes of the preanal appendage are located laterad, similar to P. insularis , new species, but in P. beccus it is bulbous and not as elongate. The inferior appendage of this species is distinct in having a broad, elongate base with the dorsal and ventral branches diverging apically into a longer dorsal and shorter, truncate ventral branch. The anterior basal plate of the inferior appendage is unlike other species in the genus, with the exception of P. nayaritensis , in being uniformly broad and not tapering anteriorly.

Adult. Length of forewing 5.5 mm, n = 1. Color of head, thorax, and legs yellowish-brown; setae on wings brown to dark brown with scattered patches of golden setae.

Male genitalia. Sternum IX in lateral view deltoid to slightly quadrate, anterior margin entire, posterior margin sinuate; in ventral view rectangular, anterior margin concave, posterior margin with slight median flange. Tergum X membranous, oblong, bearing dorsal microsetae. Intermediate appendage shorter than inferior appendage, triangular, directed ventrad, with long mesolateral setae, apex bifurcate, beak-like, with sclerotized dorsal lobe and more slender, less sclerotized, closely appressed ventral lobe; in dorsal view narrowing posteriorly; in caudal view dorsal lobe rod-like, directed ventrolaterad, apex acute. Preanal appendage bipartite; mesolateral process setose, in dorsal and in lateral view circular; mesoventral process setose, located laterally, bulbous; in caudal view not fused basomesally, processes broadly separated, ventral margin of process rounded. Inferior appendage bipartite with anterior basal plate short and uniformly broad, not extending anterad beyond sternum IX when observed in lateral view; dorsal branch setose, in lateral view clavate; in ventral view narrow, lateral margin entire, posterior margin rounded, mesal margin entire, slightly angled, expanding posterad into shallowly fused ventral branch; ventral branch setose, elongate, basally broad narrowing apically; in lateral view digitate, apically truncate; in ventral view quadrate to deltoid, posteromesal margin angled, gradually converging mesally. Phallus short; dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view cylindrical, apex acute; apex of dorsal phallic sclerite in dorsal view rounded; dorsolateral arm of dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view tapering subapically; endothecal membrane with pair of medium-sized, curved spines.

Material examined. VENEZUELA: T[erritorio] F[ederal] Amazonas [=Estado Amazonas]: Puerto Ayacucho (40 km S) El Tobogán , Caño Coromoto [5°39'50"N, 67°37'25"W], 24.i.1989, Spangler, Faitoute & Barr — 1 male ( UMSP) [paratype] .