Polyplectropus rondoniensis, Chamorro & Holzenthal, 2010

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 122-124

Polyplectropus rondoniensis , new species

Figs. 60, 97B, 137

This species is very similar to P. fuscatus Flint and P. tragularius , new species by the presence of a bipartite intermediate appendage, a pair of narrow, medium-sized endothecal phallic spines, and a dorsal, digitate lobe of the mesoventral process of the preanal appendage. All 3 species have similar inferior appendage, particularly the pandurate dorsal branch. Polyplectropus rondoniensis can be distinguished from P. fuscatus by the presence of a dorsolateral process of the preanal appendage and by the apically free mesoventral processes of the preanal appendage (fused in P. fuscatus ). Polyplectropus rondoniensis differs from P. tragularius by the more robust, basally fused endothecal phallic spines, by the more prominent dorsal digitate lobe of the mesoventral process, by the shape of the secondary ventral lobe of the intermediate appendage, being deltoid in P. rondoniensis and quadrate in P. tragularius , and by the presence of a median projection on the dorsal surface of the ventral branch of the inferior appendage.

Adult. Length of forewing 4.3–4.7 mm, n = 32. Color of head, thorax, and legs yellowish-brown (specimens preserved in alcohol).

Male genitalia. Sternum IX in lateral view deltoid, anterior margin submedially produced, posterior margin sinuate and medially produced; in ventral view rectangular, anterior margin concave, posterior margin with slight median flange. Tergum X membranous, oblong, bearing dorsal microsetae; lower lip of tergum X membranous, smooth, without dorsal microsetae, digitate. Intermediate appendage not longer than inferior appendage, multilobate with ventral digitate projection, setose; in dorsal view rounded with digitate ventral setose lobe and medial membranous lobe; in caudal view tripartite, primary lobe ventromesally produced into digitate setose lobe and medially into membranous oblong lobe. Preanal appendage tripartite; dorsolateral process elongate, originating from dorsum of mesolateral process, recurved posterad, tapering mesally into acute apex; mesolateral process setose; in dorsal view deltoid, in lateral view oblong; mesoventral process setose; in lateral view hook-like, with dorsal digitate lobe and ventrad-directed sclerotized apex, ventral margin concave, posterior margin concave; in caudal view fused basomesally, processes separated with dorsal digitate lobe, ventral margin of process acute. 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 clavate, lateral margin produced basolaterad, sinuate, posterior margin acute, mesal margin sinuate, concave, subbasally produced, expanding posterad into ventral branch; ventral branch setose, elongate; in lateral view oblong, basally produced, rounded posterad; in ventral view oblong posteromesal margin gradually converging mesally. Phallus long; dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view sinuate, apex oblong; apex of dorsal phallic sclerite in dorsal view subacute; dorsolateral arm of dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view tapering subapically; endothecal membrane with 2 basally fused, medium-sized spines.

Holotype male: BRAZIL: Rondônia: creek 8 km S of Cacaulandia , 21.xi.1991, D. Petr — ( UMSP000100990 ) ( MZUSP).

Paratypes: BRAZIL: Rondônia: creek 8 km S of Cacaulandia , 21.xi.1991, D. Petr — 4 males, 27 females ( NMNH) ( UMSP) .

Distribution. Brazil.

Etymology. This species is named for the type locality, the state of Rondônia in Brazil.