Mortoniella (Mortoniella) tridens, 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 : 91-92

Mortoniella (Mortoniella) tridens , new species

Fig. 76

Mexitrichia n. sp. 7: Flint 1996: 383.

This species is very closely related to M. triramosa , n. sp. Both species have a very unusual tripartite dorsal phallic spine, as discussed in the subgroup description above. Mortoniella tridens can be distinguished from M. triramosa by its longer paramere appendages and shorter inferior appendages, as well as by having a pair of rounded apicoventral lobes on the phallicata (rather than a decurved ventromesal lobe) and also by having a pair of wart-like projections on tergum X.

Adult —Length of forewing: male 3.2-3.3 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III present, hind wing with forks II, III, and V. Spur formula 0:4:4. Overall color dark brown, Tibial spurs slightly darker than legs, weakly contrasting in color. Wing bar at anastomosis distinct, marked with white setae.

Male genitalia —Ventral process of segment VI laterally compressed, very large, subtriangular, ventrally directed, length subequal to width at base, apex acute, process not retracted anterobasally. Segment IX nearly evenly rounded anterolaterally, length greatest midlaterally, posterolateral margin slightly produced in dorsal ½, narrowing ventrally; segment deeply mesally excised dorsally and ventrally, forming lateral lobes, separated dorsomesally by much less than ½ width of segment. Tergum X relatively short, subquadrate, with pair of small raised setose processes at about midlength, lateral margins subparallel, apicolateral lobes reduced to small trianguloid processes, inset from lateral margin, acute apically; ventrolateral lobes prominent, rounded. Inferior appendages short, strongly fused to phallicata, distinguishable as such mostly by setae, lateral lobes obsolete, apicomesal margin slightly projecting, bluntly truncate. Mesal pockets of inferior appendage with spine-like apical processes relatively short, narrow, sinuous, posteriorly projecting. Paramere appendage moderately elongate, narrow, with base displaced ventrally on membranous lobe, apex posterodorsally curved. Dorsal phallic spine cleft apically to form 3 narrow branches, mesal one dorsally inflected, lateral ones subparallel basally, divergently and laterally curved near apex. Phallicata with pair of small rounded ventral lobes near apex. Endophallic membrane elongate, without membranous lobes or ventral spine; phallotremal spines very small, indistinct, apical.

Holotype male (pinned)— PERU: Cuzco: Paucartambo; Pilcopata to Atlaya , 4.ix.1988, O Flint and N Adams ( UMSP000157321 ) ( MJP).

Paratype — PERU: Cuzco: same data a holotype – 1 male (pinned) ( NMNH).

Etymology —This species is named M. tridens , from the Latin word for a fork with three tines, and referring to the tripartite structure of the dorsal phallic spine.

Figures

Figure 76. Mortoniella (Mortoniella) tridens, new species, male genitalia. A—lateral; B—segment IX and tergum X, dorsal; C—phallic ensemble, ventral; D—dorsal phallic spine and phallobase, dorsal; E—ventral process of segment VI, lateral.