Polyplectropus ulmeriana Flint

Chamorro, Maria Lourdes & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2010, 2582, Zootaxa 2582, pp. 1-252 : 143-145

Polyplectropus ulmeriana Flint

Figs. 71, 143

Polyplectropus ulmeriana Flint, 1983: 27 . [Type locality: Argentina, Pcia. Misiones, Arroyo Piray Mini, Rt. 17 W Dos Hermanas; NMNH; male].

This species resembles P. juliae , new species in the deltoid shape of the dorsal branch of the inferior appendage, which bears a posterobasal process, on the short, deltoid ventral branch of the inferior appendage, the overall shape of the mesoventral process of the preanal appendage, and on the more or less digitate lobes of the intermediate appendage. These 2 species can be easily distinguished by the presence of a short, dorsolateral process of the preanal appendage in P. ulmeriana (bipartite in P. juliae ), by the linear posterobasal process on the dorsal branch of the inferior appendage (curved dorsally in P. juliae ), by the shorter endothecal phallic spines (about ½ as long in P. ulmeriana ), and by the narrower apex of the phallic sclerite.

Adult. Length of forewing 5–6 mm. Color of head and thorax brown, legs yellowish-brown; 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 submedially produced, posterior margin medially produced; in ventral view rectangular, anterior margin concave, posterior margin with median flange. Tergum X membranous, oblong, bearing dorsal microsetae. Intermediate appendage as long as inferior appendage, bipartite and both lobes digitate with short apical setae; in dorsal view digitate, apex narrowing laterad or produced mesally into smaller digitate lobe; in caudal view digitate, basally broad, bearing ventral microsetae, directed posterolaterad. 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 ovate, in lateral view oblong; mesoventral process setose; in lateral view hook-like, with basal dorsal digitate lobe and ventrad-directed sclerotized apex, anteroventral margin concave; in caudal view fused basomesally, processes slightly separated apically, 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 deltoid to lanceolate, basally with short, lanceolate process; in ventral view narrow, lateral margin convex, entire, posterior margin subacute, mesal margin entire, concave, basally with lanceolate projection, shallowly fused to ventral branch; ventral branch setose, short, in lateral view orbicular, rounded posterad; in ventral view rounded, posteromesal margin basally rounded, gradually converging mesally. Phallus long; dorsal phallic sclerite in lateral view sinuate, apex narrowing apically and bent dorsad into rounded apex; endothecal membrane with 2 thin, medium-sized spines.

Material examined. ARGENTINA: Entre Rios: A [rroy]o Piray Mini W, Dos Hermanas, [33°10'00"S, 58°53'59"W], 23.xi.1973, O S Flint — 3 males [holotype & paratypes] ( NMNH); BRAZIL: Santa Catarina: Nova Teutônia, 27°11'00"S, 52°23'00"W, 300–500 m,. xi.1963, F Plaumann — 2 males [paratypes] ( NMNH); PARAGUAY: Itapua: Pirapo , [26°51'00"S, 55°31'59"W],. i.1972, G. & L E Peña — 1 male [paratype] ( NMNH) .

Distribution. Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay.