Polyplectropus andinensis, Chamorro & Holzenthal, 2010

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 148-149

Polyplectropus andinensis , new species

Figs. 15A, 73, 131

Polyplectropus andinensis resembles P. robacki (Yamamoto) , P. bolivianus , new species, and P. brborichorum , new species ( P. robacki subset) in the overall shape of the male genitalia, particularly in the acutely curved, narrow dorsal branch of the inferior appendage. Polyplectropus andinensis can be distinguished from these species by the more robust intermediate appendage. Polyplectropus bolivianus also has a robust intermediate appendage, however it is shorter and the endothecal membrane of the phallus has 2 stout, sclerotized spines. In addition to the differences in the intermediate appendage, the dorsal branch of the inferior appendage does not usually extend beyond the apex of the ventral branch, characteristic also observed in P. brborichorum .

Adult. Length of forewing 6.0– 6.5 mm, n=5. Color of head, thorax, and legs brown; setae on body grey and yellow; tegulae with long, golden brown and grey setae; setae on wings golden brown along costal margin with patches of grey setae interspersed along margin and on most of wing surface.

Male genitalia. Sternum IX in lateral view deltoid, anterior margin convex, posterior margin sinuate and submedially concave; in ventral view broadly deltoid, anterior margin concave, posterior margin highly convex. 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 longer than inferior appendage, rod-like, stout basally broad with long basal setae; in dorsal view basally broad, tapering into curved rods, directed laterad; in caudal view lanceolate, curved, narrowing and becoming sclerous apically, directed medially, with apex curved posterolaterad. Preanal appendage tripartite; dorsolateral process bulbous; mesolateral process setose; in dorsal view ovate, in lateral view deltoid; mesoventral process setose; in lateral view hook-like, with basodorsal digitate lobe, with ventrad-directed sclerotized apex, ventral margin concave, posterior margin rounded; in caudal view not fused basomesally, processes separated, ventral margin of process acute, with basal, digitate, setose dorsolateral projection. Inferior appendage bipartite with anterior basal plate extending anterad beyond sternum IX when observed in lateral view; dorsal branch setose, in lateral view lanceolate, basally setose and broader, becoming highly curved, directed anterad beyond half of segment IX, recurved posteromesally; in ventral view narrow, basally sclerotized with digitate, laterally directed lobe, narrowing and recurving apically, expanding posterad into ventral branch; ventral branch setose, basally broad; in lateral view obovate, rounded posterad; in ventral view subquadrate, mesal margin straight, posterior margin rounded to truncate, shallowly converging mesally. Phallus short; dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view cylindrical, apex pandurate; apex of dorsal phallic sclerite in dorsal view acute; endothecal membrane without embedded spines.

Holotype male: BOLIVIA: Chuquis [aca]: Monteagudo, 1300 m, 24.xii.1984, L. E. Peña G.— ( UMSP000085577 ) ( NMNH) . Paratypes: ARGENTINA: Salta: 5 km. S[outh] Orám, 13.x.1973, O. S. Flint — 1 male ( NMNH) ; BOLIVIA: Chuquis [aca]: Monteagudo, 1300 m, 24.xii.1984, L. E. Peña G.— 3 males ( NMNH). Distribution. Argentina and Bolivia. Etymology. This species is named for the Andes mountain range of South America, at the Eastern edge of which this species was collected .