Mortoniella (Mortoniella) flexuosa, Blahnik & Holzenthal, 2017

Blahnik, Roger J. & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2017, Revision of the northern South American species of Mortoniella Ulmer 1906 (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae: Protoptilinae) *, Insecta Mundi 2017 (602), pp. 1-251 : 51-52

Mortoniella (Mortoniella) flexuosa , new species

Fig. 33 , 111

This species is very similar to M. bolivic a (Flint), as discussed in the diagnosis for that species, and the two form a closely related species pair. The species are unusual for members of the M leroda species group in having an elongate, reflexed, dorsolateral lobe on each of the inferior appendages. That of M. flexuosa is diagnostic in being more elongate and sinuously bent, and the apicoventral projection of the inferior appendage is also much more acute. Mortoniella flexuosa also has a small, sclerotized projection or tubercle on the phallicata that is apparently absent in M. bolivica . There is some size variation in the material examined. The holotype appears as in the illustration; the paratypes, which include the female specimens, are smaller in size and have the ventral projection of the inferior appendages slightly shorter. There are no other significant structural differences and we infer the differences to be populational variation.

Adult —Length of forewing: male 3.8-4.8 mm; female 4.1-4.6 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III present, hind wing with forks II and III. Spur formula 0:4:4. Overall color light brown. Tibial spurs slightly darker in color, contrasting with legs. Wing bar at anastamosis relatively indistinct, interrupted, marked with whitish setae.

Male genitalia —Ventral process of segment VI laterally compressed, very large, subtriangular, posteroventrally projecting, width at base nearly as long as segment, subequal to length. Segment IX nearly evenly rounded anterolaterally, length greatest midlaterally, posterolateral margin weakly convexly rounded dorsally, narrowing ventrally; segment deeply mesally excised dorsally and ventrally, forming lateral lobes, separated dorsomesally by much less than ½ width of segment. Tergum X with excision between lateral lobes nearly linear; apicolateral lobes distinctly sclerotized, acute, curved inward from lateral margins, mesal margins subparallel. Inferior appendages relatively large and prominent, setose, nearly completely divided ventromesally, apicolateral angles projecting and very acutely narrowed, dorsolateral lobes elongate, narrow, sinuous, posteriorly recurved, apices acute. Mesal pockets of inferior appendage with apical processes relatively short, dorsally curved. Paramere appendages moderately elongate, narrow, extending about as far as apical inflection of dorsal phallic spine. Dorsal phallic spine, as viewed laterally, only slightly widened in basal ½, narrowing apically, base distinctly curved, apex weakly and obtusely upturned in about apical 1/3 or 1/4; in dorsal view, with apical inflection distinctly widened (dorsoventrally flattened), apex asymmetrical and irregularly serrate. Phallicata with dorsal margin weakly sclerotized, apparently to accommodate dorsal phallic spine, laterally with rounded protrusion, apparently to accommodate flexed dorsal lobe of inferior appendages. Endophallic membrane moderately elongate and relatively simple, with small membranous apical and preapical lobes, ventrally with pair of distinctly sclerotized, curved spines; phallotremal spines absent.

Holotype male (pinned)— COLOMBIA: Quindió: Río Quindió, Retén “La Playa”, ca. 2 km NE Salento , 4.64028° N, 75.55667° W, 1890 m, 2.i.1998, F Muñoz-Q et al. ( UMSP000209628 ) ( UMSP).

Paratypes — COLOMBIA: Cauca: Municipio de Belalcazar, Quebrada Tálaga, ca. 14 km N Páez (Belalcazar), 2.70667° N, 76.01806° W, 1680 m, 22.xii.1997, F Muñoz-Q et al.– 2 males, 2 females (pinned) ( UMSP), 1 male, 1 female (pinned) ( NMNH).

Etymology —This species is named M. flexuosa from the Latin flexuosus, meaning winding or with many bends, and referring to the sinuously bent dorsolateral process of the inferior appendage in this species.

Figures

Figure 33. Mortoniella (Mortoniella) flexuosa, new species, male genitalia. A—lateral; B—segment IX and tergum X, dorsal; C—phallic ensemble, ventral; D—dorsal phallic spine, dorsal; E—ventral process of segment VI, lateral.

Figures 110-113. Mortoniella (M.), leroda group species, female genitalia. 110—Mortoniella atenuata (Flint). A—lateral; B—dorsal; C—ventral. 111—Mortoniella flexuosa, n. sp. A—lateral; B—caudal. 112—Mortoniella brevis, n. sp., caudal. 113—Mortoniella biramosa, n. sp., caudal.