Mortoniella pocita ( Flint, 1983 ), 2011

Blahnik, Roger J. & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2011, Revision of the austral South American species of Mortoniella (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae: Protoptilinae) 2851, Zootaxa 2851 (1), pp. 1-75 : 39-41

Mortoniella pocita ( Flint, 1983)

Fig. 19

Mexitrichia pocita Flint, 1983: 8 ; Rueda & Gibon 2008: 223 [illustration; distribution].

Mortoniella pocita (Flint) ; Blahnik & Holzenthal 2008: 69 [ M. leroda species group].

This is a very distinctive species easily diagnosed by the structure of the dorsal phallic spine, which has its apex distinctively enlarged, in lateral view, but laterally compressed and narrow, as viewed dorsally, and by the shape and structure of the inferior appendages, which have elongate apicolateral projections.

Adult. Length of forewing: male 2.5–2.9 mm, female 2.6–3.5 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III present, hind wing with fork II only. Spur formula 0:3:4. Overall color, in alcohol, yellowish-brown. Wing bar at anastamosis not evident (in alcohol).

Male genitalia. Ventral process of segment VI laterally compressed, somewhat posteriorly directed, subtriangular, wide basally, acute apically. Segment IX nearly evenly rounded anterolaterally, length greatest midlaterally, posterolateral margin forming rounded to slightly angular projection in dorsal 1/2, narrowing ventrally; segment deeply excised dorsomesally and ventromesally, forming lateral lobes, lobes separated dorsomesally by much less than 1/2 width of segment. Tergum X with U-shaped mesal excision, extending less than 1/2 length of segment, and projecting lateral lobes; lateral lobes, as viewed dorsally, with apical projections subtriangular, narrowed and acute, extreme apices incurved, as viewed laterally, projecting and subacute; lobes somewhat depressed. Inferior appendages with very short, acute ventromesal projection; laterally, on each side, with basally rounded, posteriorly directed lobes; lobes moderately elongate, tapering, outwardly curved, apices acute. Mesal pockets of fused inferior appendages with apical processes relatively short, posteriorly curved. Paramere appendages bulbous basally, strongly dorsally curved near base, stout at inflection, tapering to acute apex. Dorsal phallic spine, as viewed laterally, somewhat inflated in middle, strongly dorsally curved at about apical 1/4th, with projecting, rounded lobe at inflection, apex acute; in dorsal view, very distinctly widened in middle, apical part narrowed, acute (apex laterally compressed). Phallicata with elongate narrow dorsolateral processes, basal part of each process anteriorly directed and curved around base of paramere appendage, apical part posteriorly directed, apex acute; phallicata laterally with lightly sclerotized, broadly rounded, strongly depressed projections. Endophallic membrane with apex forming projecting, rounded, laterally compressed lobe; ventromesal spine absent; phallotremal spines short, acute, anterolaterally directed

Material examined. ARGENTINA: Salta: Río Pescado , W Oran , 14.x.1973, OS Flint — 2 males, 118 females (Paratypes, alcohol) ( NMNH) .

Distribution. Argentina, Bolivia.

Figures

FIGURE 19. Mortoniella pocita (Flint), new species, male genitalia: A—lateral; B—segment IX and tergum X, dorsal; C— phallic ensemble, ventral; D—dorsal phallic spine, dorsal.