Polyplectropus kailashchandrai, Pandher & Parey, 2018

Pandher, Manpreet Singh & Parey, Sajad Hussain, 2018, New species of the genus Polyplectropus Ulmer 1905 (Insecta: Trichoptera: Polycentropodidae) from Indian Himalaya, Zootaxa 4504 (3), pp. 431-438 : 433-437

Polyplectropus kailashchandrai sp.nov.

( Figs. 10–17 )

Description. Male. Color in alcohol dark black. Antennae pale yellow. Wings brown, covered with black setae. Length from tip of head to apex of folded forewings about 6 mm. Maxillary palpi each 1.25 mm long, 2nd segment globular and small, 3rd segment longer than 4th, 5th very long, with ratios of segments I: II: III: IV: V = 1.25: 2.00: 3.50: 2.75: 5.50, respectively; labial palp each about 0.50 mm long. Length of each forewing about 5 mm; Forks I– V present ( Fig. 16 ); petiole of Fork I about 2.5 times as long as Fork I itself; discoidal cell about 3 times its width; Cu 2 recurved proximally and meeting combined 2A+3A veins at apex. Hind wings each 3.75 mm long; discoidal cell open ( Fig. 17 ).

Male genitalia ( Figs. 10–15 ). Abdominal segment IX with quadrate sternum, anteroventrally slightly produced; in ventral view anterior and posterior margins excised irregularly; tergum IX short, twisted apically in lateral view. Tergum X pentagonal with apicolateral projections; incised apicomesally in dorsal view. Preanal appendages each narrow at base, broader apically, slightly invaginated apically in lateral view; dorsobasal process of each preanal appendage needle-like, recurved dorsad and then caudoventrad, trilobed near its sub-basal part in lateral view into 3 unequal needle-like processes. Inferior appendages broad basally, each excised dorsally near its base, tapering to slightly pointed apex in lateral view, longer than preanal appendages; in ventral view ventromesal lobe of each inferior appendage well developed, forming broad, sub-apical pointed process, apex of inferior appendage curved mesad and rounded apically. Phallus simple, broad basally in lateral view, length nondiscernable, comprising tube-like sclerotized phallotheca and membranous endotheca with clearly visible sclerites, apically bifid.

Female, pupa, larva, and eggs: Unknown.

Holotype male. INDIA: Uttarakhand, Mandal , 1,700 m, 12-vi-2011, Pandher & Parey ( NPC) . Paratypes: 1 male, collection data same as of holotype; Uttarakhand, Sagar Village , 1 male, 1,350 m, 14-vi-2011, Pandher & Parey, ( NZC) .

Diagnosis. This species is allied to Polyplectropus nahor Malicky & Chantaramongkol, 1993 (from Thailand) and P. bay Malicky, 1995 (from Vietnam) due to the presence of more than one process on the dorsobasal process of each preanal appendage. However, P. kailashchandrai sp. nov. is distinct, as it is the only species from India with three unequal processes, one long dorsobasal process of each preanal appendage and 2 other processes branching from it, one long and the other small.

Distribution. India: Uttarakhand.

Etymology. The species is dedicated to Dr. Kailash Chandra, the Director of Zoological Survey of India, for his outstanding contribution to the knowledge of Indian fauna.

Figures

FIGURES 10–15. Polyplectropus kailashchandrai sp. nov., male genitalia. 10, left lateral; 11, dorsal; 12, segment IX and inferior appendages, ventral; 13, phallus, left lateral; 14, phallus, ventral; 15, dorsobasal process of left preanal appendage, left lateral.

FIGURES 16–19. Polyplectropus spp., wing venation. 16–17, Pol. kailashchandrai sp. nov.: 16, right forewing, dorsal; 17, right hindwing, dorsal. 18–19, Pol. himachalica sp. nov.: 18, right forewing, dorsal, 19, right hindwing, dorsal. (abbreviations: Sc = subcostal vein; R 1 –R 5 = radial veins 1–5; M 1 –M 4 = medial veins 1–4; Cu = cubital vein; A = anal veins; I, II, III, IV, V = apical forks I–IV.