Mortoniella akantha, Blahnik & Holzenthal, 2008

Blahnik, Roger J. & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2008, Revision of the Mexican and Central American species of Mortoniella (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae: Protoptilinae), Zootaxa 1711 (1), pp. 1-72 : 11-14

Mortoniella akantha , new species

Figs. 1–3

This species is very similar to both Mortoniella tapanti , n. sp., and M. anakantha , n. sp. All of these species are characterized by having an inferior appendage with a single, symmetrical apicomesal projection and also distinctive, elongate dorsolateral branches. Mortoniella akantha is most similar to M. anakantha , especially in the form of the inferior appendage. Both species have the apicomesal projection of the inferior appendage more elongate than M. tapanti , and the dorsolateral branches are not forked. Mortoniella akantha differs from M. anakantha in that the dorsolateral branches of the inferior appendage are distinctly widened and basketlike preapically and have the expansion densely covered with elongate bristle-like setae on both surfaces, as opposed to a few (or no) setae on a scarcely expanded process in M. anakantha . Mortoniella tapanti also has setae on the elongate dorsolateral branches of the inferior appendage, but the setae on the structure do not occur on a basket-like enlargement and are also differently arranged.

Adult. Length of forewing: male 3.6–4.2 mm, female 4.0– 4.5 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III, hind wing with forks II and III. Overall color light to medium brown, palps and basal part of antennal and tarsal segments darker brown, apices of tibiae, tarsal and basal antennal segments light brown. Wing bar at anastamosis distinct, marked by pale, light brown setae. Ventral process of abdominal segment VI (male) short, ventrally oriented, subtriangular, rounded to subacute apically, base about as long as length, not or very slightly constricted basally.

Male genitalia. Segment IX nearly evenly rounded anterolaterally, length greatest midlaterally, posterolateral margin forming rounded to slightly angular projection in dorsal half, narrowing ventrally; segment deeply mesally excised dorsally and ventrally, dorsal excision narrow, much less than half width of segment. Tergum X with short, subacute mesal projection and projecting lateral lobes, lateral lobes with apices narrowed, subacute, mesally curved. Inferior appendage with relatively broad, prominent, symmetrical, apically rounded apicomesal projection with elongate setae ventrally and laterally, short, sparse setae dorsally; appendage basolaterally, with prominent dorsal projection on each side, each terminating in elongate, narrow, posteriorly projected dorsolateral branch, extending past apicomesal projection of inferior appendage; apex of dorsolateral branch narrow, acute, posteriorly directed, preapically expanding to form widened basket-like area with numerous elongate bristle-like setae on both convex ventral and concave dorsal surfaces; mesal pockets of inferior appendage with apical processes short, thick, dorsally curved. Paramere appendages emerging from membranous basolateral projections, very elongate, narrow, dorsally arched basally, mesally curved apically, each appendage slightly widened in apical half or third, sinuous, ribbon-like, apex narrowed and acute. Dorsal phallic spine with basoventral bulge, apical part sinuously, dorsally curved; as viewed dorsally, with apex acute. Phallicata relatively wide basally, expanded in middle, greatly narrowed apically, basoventrally with slight bulge, dorsally with broadly rounded, explanate lateral projection on either side. Endophallic membrane short, simple, without spines.

Holotype male: COSTA RICA: San José: Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo, Quebrada Sanguijuela , 10°09'36"N, 083°57'47"W, 800 m, 27.iii.1987, Holzenthal, Hamilton & Heyn ( UMSP000001118 ) (pinned) ( UMSP).

Paratypes: COSTA RICA: [ex. arugula herbs, intercepted at port of Miami , no additional locality information] 2.i.1994 — 1 male (pinned) ( NMNH) ; Alajuela: Reserva Forestal San Ramón, Río San Lorencito & tribs., 10°12'58"N, 084°36'25"W, 980 m, 30.iii.–1.iv.1987, Holzenthal, Hamilton & Heyn — 6 males (alcohol) ( UMSP) ; same locality, 13–16.vi.1988, C. & O. Flint, Holzenthal — 5 males, 20 females (pinned) ( NMNH) , 8 males, 247 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Cartago: Quebrada Platanillo , ca. 5 km E Moravia de Chirripó, 09°49'16"N, 083°24'25"W, 1130 m, 6.viii.1987, Holzenthal, Morse & Clausen — 2 males (alcohol) ( UMSP) ; Puntarenas: Río Cotón, in Las Alturas , 08°56'17"N, 082°49'34"W, 1360 m, 16.ii.1986, Holzenthal, Morse & Fasth — 2 males (alcohol) ( UMSP) ; same locality, 13–14.viii.1990, Holzenthal, Blahnik & Muñoz — 4 males (alcohol)( UMSP) ; same locality, 18.iii.1991, Holzenthal, Muñoz & Huisman — 1 male (pinned) ( UMSP) ; Río Bellavista , ca. 1.5 km NW Las Alturas, 08°57'04"N, 082°50'46"W, 1400 m, 15–17.vi.1986, Holzenthal, Heyn & Armitage — 1 male (alcohol) ( UMSP) ; same locality, 8–9.iv.1987, Holzenthal, Hamilton & Heyn — 2 males (alcohol) ( INBIO) ; same locality, 10–11.viii.1990, Holzenthal, Blahnik & Muñoz — 1 male (pinned) ( UMSP) ; Río Guineal, ca 1 km (air) E Finca Helechales , 09°04'34"N, 083°05'31"W, 840 m, 22.ii.1986, Holzenthal, Morse & Fasth — 1 male, 4 females (pinned), 1 male (alcohol) ( UMSP) ; same locality, 4.viii.1987, Holzenthal, Morse & Clausen — 1 male (alcohol) ( UMSP) ; Río Singrí, ca 2 km (air) S Finca Helechales , 09°03'25"N, 083°04'55"W, 720 m, 21.ii.1986, Holzenthal, Morse & Fasth — 8 males (alcohol) ( INBIO) ; Zona Protectora Las Tablas, Río Cotón , Sitio Cotón, 08°56'28"N, 082°47'13"W, 1460 m, 15.iv.1989, Holzenthal & Blahnik — 1 male (alcohol) ( UMSP) ; Río Bellavista trib., Las Alturas , road to quarry, 08°57'07"N, 082°50'53"W, 1480 m, 19.iii.1991, Holzenthal, Muñoz & Huisman — 3males (pinned), 1 male (alcohol) ( UMSP) ; San José: same locality and date as holotype — 1 male, 17 females (pinned) ( UMSP) .

Etymology. This species is named M. akantha after the Greek word akantha , for a thorn or prickle, and referring to the setose dorsolateral branches of the inferior appendage of this species.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Mortoniella akantha, new species. Male genitalia: A—lateral; B—segment IX and tergum X, dorsal; C— phallic ensemble, ventral; D—dorsal phallic spine, dorsal.

FIGURE 2–3. 2, Mortoniella akantha, new species. Female genitalia: A—dorsal; B—ventral. 3. Mortoniella akantha, new species. Wings, male: A—forewing; B—hind wing.