Mortoniella florica ( Flint, 1974 ) 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 : 27-29

Mortoniella florica ( Flint, 1974) , new combination

Fig. 11

Mexitrichia florica Flint, 1974: 10 .

Mortoniella florica is most similar to M. propinqua , both of which have a very short inferior appendage, without either pronounced apicomesal or apicolateral projections. The other character attributes of these species, particularly the presence of upright dorsolateral processes on the phallicata, relate them to the group of species discussed under M. carinula . Mortoniella florica can be distinguished from M. propinqua by the shape of tergum X, always with a well developed mesal projection in M. florica and with the apicolateral projections relatively short, wide, and distinctly dorsoventrally flattened. In M. propinqua , the mesal projection of tergum X is either absent or weakly developed and the apicolateral projections are distinctly elongate.

In the material available, there is some variability in M. florica . Variation includes the apices of the paramere appendages, which are flattened and somewhat widened in some specimens, the presence of papillalike processes on the base of the paramere appendages in some specimens, the shape of the dorsal processes of the phallicata, which may be either rounded or subquadrate, the size of the endophallic spine, and the shape of the dorsolateral processes of the inferior appendage, which are usually short and rounded, as in the specimen illustrated, but acutely angular in specimens from Nicaragua. However, in overall morphology, and, especially in the structure of tergum X, these specimens are all very similar.

Adult. Length of forewing: male 2.6–3.8 mm, female 3.4–3.8 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III, hind wing with forks II and III. Overall color medium brown. Wing bar at anastamosis indistinctly marked with pale, light brown setae. Ventral process of abdominal segment VI (male) short, ventrally oriented, subtriangular, subacute apically, not constricted basally.

Male genitalia. Segment IX nearly evenly rounded anterolaterally, length greatest midlaterally, posterolateral margin forming rounded 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 prominent, acute or subacute mesal projection and projecting lateral lobes, lateral lobes moderately long, subequal in length to mesal projection, relatively wide in dorsal view, distinctly dorsoventrally flattened, slightly mesally curved, apices subacute. Inferior appendage with very short, acute apicomesal projection and short, rounded basolateral projections on each side (or short, apically acute projection in specimens from Nicaragua); mesal pockets of inferior appendage with apical processes short, dorsally curved. Paramere appendages very elongate, narrow, nearly uniform in width, strongly dorsally curved at base, apices scabrous, sometimes slightly widened and flattened, bases of appendages sometimes with several short papilla-like projections. Dorsal phallic spine slightly enlarged basoventrally, weakly sinuous in contour, apex posteriorly directed, not strongly inflected; as viewed dorsally, with apex very narrowly acuminate. Phallicata relatively straight, tubu- lar, dorsally with paired rounded to subquadrate processes, elevated basally and projecting laterally, laterally with explanate projections on either side. Endophallic membrane with single prominent, stout, curved spine.

Material examined. MEXICO: Oaxaca: Santa Maria de Yavesia (planta embotelladora de agua), 17°13'36"N, 096°25'35"W, 1930 m, 16.viii.2001, Bueno, Barba & Ibarra — 1 male (alcohol) ( IBUNAM) ; Tabasco: Municipio Huimanguillo, Ejido Villa de Gpe., 1 a secc., Cascada Cerro de las Flores , Rta. Maipasito- Carlos A. Madrazo, 17°21'39"N, 093°37'29"W, 540 m, 26.vi.1999, Bueno & Barba — 1 male (alcohol) ( IBUNAM) ; same locality, 16.iii.2000, Bueno, Barba & Rojas — 5 males (alcohol) ( IBUNAM) ; Veracruz: Río Tacolapan, Rt. 180, 25–26.vii.1966, Flint & Ortiz — 1 male (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Municipio Tlilapan, Arroyo Quetzalan, Los Manantiales , km 5, Rta. Orizaba-Zongolica , 18°47'25"N, 097°06'05"W, 1160 m, 17.iii.2000, Bueno, Barba & Rojas — 74 males (alcohol) ( IBUNAM) ; 13.vii.2001, Bueno & Barba — 4 males, 2 females (pinned), 6 males (alcohol) ( IBUNAM) ; Fortin de las Flores , 22.v.1965, Rabago — 1 male (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Pte. Tacolapan, E. Tejada , 4.xii.1975, C. & O. Flint — 1 male (pinned) ( NMNH) ; Municipio Tlilipan, "Los Manantiales", km 5 Rta. Oriazaba-Zongolica, 18°47'42"N, 096°06'08"W, 30.xi.1998, Bueno & Barba — 1 male (pinned) ( IBUNAM; NICARAGUA: Zelaya: Río Las Latas , 14°04'00"N, 084°33'00"W, 220 m, 2.vi.1998, Maes & Hernandez — 20 males (alcohol) ( UMSP).

Distribution. MEXICO (Oaxaca, Tabasco, Veracruz), NICARAGUA (Zelaya).

Figures

FIGURE 11. Mortoniella florica (Flint). Male genitalia: A—lateral; B—segment IX and tergum X, dorsal; C—phallic ensemble, ventral.