Polyplectropus panamensis Bueno-Soria, 1990

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 103

Polyplectropus panamensis Bueno-Soria

Figs. 17D, 51, 126

Polyplectropus panamensis Bueno-Soria, 1990: 363 . [Type locality: Panama, Barro Colorado Island , Zona del Canal; NMNH; male].

This species is superficially similar to P. petrae , new species. Both species have “mitten-shaped” inferior appendages (i.e., shallowly fused dorsal and ventral branches of the inferior appendage) and lack a dorsolateral process of the preanal appendage. Furthermore, both species have completely fused mesoventral processes of the preanal appendage bearing numerous peg-like setae as well as oblong intermediate appendages with basal and apical setae. However, Polyplectropus panamensis can be distinguished from P. petrae by the absence of peg-like setae on the inferior appendage, by the narrow dorsal branch of the inferior appendage, and by the absence of a dorsal digitate lobe of the mesoventral process of the preanal appendage.

Adult. Length of forewing 2.5–4.8 mm, n = 7. Color of head, thorax, and legs brown; setae on wings brown with few scattered grey markings.

Male genitalia. Sternum IX in lateral view broadly deltoid, anterior margin sinuate, posterior margin medially produced; in ventral view rectangular, anterior margin entire, posterior margin with median flange and sinuate. Tergum X membranous, oblong, bearing dorsal microsetae. Intermediate appendage as long as inferior appendage, oblong, with long basal setae and few scattered apically; in dorsal view basally broad, with 2 setose, digitate unequal lateral and apical lobes; in caudal view digitate, curved, setose lobe produced ventrolaterad and mesoventrally fused to lower lip of segment X. Preanal appendage bipartite; mesolateral process setose; in dorsal view oblong, in lateral view orbicular; mesoventral process setose; in lateral view oblong, directed ventrad, ventral margin concave, posterior margin rounded; in caudal view apically fused to form a single continuous structure, ventral margin of process rounded, with ventral margin bearing 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; in ventral view broad, lateral margin angled, undulate, posterior margin rounded, mesal margin undulate, shallowly fused to ventral branch; ventral branch setose, broad; in lateral view quadrate and forming a continuous structure with dorsal branch, truncate posterad; in ventral view subquadrate, posteromesal margin rounded, gradually converging mesally. Phallus short; apex of dorsal phallic sclerite in dorsal view truncate; dorsolateral arm of dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view digitate; in dorsal view slightly broadening apically, not extending beyond apex of phallic sclerite, apex rounded; endothecal membrane without embedded spines.

Material examined. COSTA RICA: Alajuela: Cerro Campana, Río Bochinche trib[utary] 6 km (air) NW Dos Rios, 10°56'42"N, 85°24'47"E, 600 m, 22–23.vii.1987, Holzenthal Morse & Clausen— 1 male, 1 female (NMNH); Reserva Forestal San Ramón , Río San Lorencito & trib[utarie]s, 10°12'58"N, 84°36'25"W, 980 m, 2–4.vii.1986, Holzenthal Heyn & Armitage— 2 males [paratypes] (UMSP); Guanacaste: Parque Nacional Guanacaste, ca. 0.7 km N Est[ación] Maritza, 10°57'36"N, 85°30'00"E, 550 m, 31.viii.1990, Huisman & Quesada— 1 male (UMSP); Heredia: Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo, Río Peje, Est[ación] Magsasay, 10°24'07"N, 84°03'00"W, 130 m, 25–26.viii.1990, Holzenthal Blahnik & Huisman— 1 male (UMSP); PANAMA: Panama: Barro Colorado Island, C[anal] Z[one], [9°09'49"N, 79°50'16"W],. vii.1967, W W Wirth— 1 male [holotype] (NMNH).

Distribution. Costa Rica and Panama.