Alterosa caparaonensis Blahnik Table Of Contents 2005, new species

Alterosa caparaonensis, new species

Fig. 8A–D

This species is easily diagnosed by the spine­like setae on the apex of tergum X and the structure of the intermediate appendages, which are branched basally and heavily armed with coarse setae. The absence of endothecal spines in the phallus is also a useful diagnostic character; similar only to Alterosa holzenthali.

Adult. Color (in alcohol) brown; legs and palps scarcely paler, antennae somewhat so, wing pattern not evident. Male forewing 7 mm.

Male genitalia. Tergum VIII with posteromesal margin deeply emarginate, emargination V­shaped and extending more than half way to anterior margin. Sternum IX with anterolateral margin broadly rounded in dorsal half; posteroventral margin greatly produced, forming broadly rounded expansion; tergum IX greatly reduced, membranous or fused to base of tergum X. Tergum X with basolateral margins angularly protruding; dorsally with elevated longitudinal mesal ridge; apex expanded, truncate as viewed dorsally, with numerous elongate spine­like setae, apex enlarged and upturned in lateral view; tergum textured basolaterally, with scabrous cuticle and numerous small adpressed scale­like spines. Intermediate appendage heavily sclerotized, moderately elongate, branched basally, with slightly more elongate and apically expanded mesal branch and shorter lateral branch, each covered with numerous spine­like setae, setae longer and more numerous apically; apices of both branches rounded. Preanal appendage narrow, constricted basally, moderately elongate, not greatly modified; apex abruptly narrowed, forming subacuminate projection with distinct terminal seta. Inferior appendages elongate, linear, flattened on mesal surface; 1st article, in lateral view, narrow, about 3 times longer than wide, tapering apically; 2nd article shorter than 1st, nearly uniform in width, only slightly narrower at base than apex of 1st article; apex rounded, with small pad of short, stiff apicomesal setae. Phallobase tubular, elongate narrow, curved in basal half; endotheca without spines.

Holotype male: BRAZIL: Minas Gerais: Parque Nacional do Caparaó, small trib. to Rio Caparaó, Vale Verde, 20°25.029'S, 41°50.767'W, el 1350 m, 12–14.iii.2002, Holzenthal, (UMSP000200499) (MZUSP).

Etymology. This species is named caparaonensis for Parque Nacional do Caparaó, the beautiful park where the holotype specimen was collected.