Mortoniella (Mortoniella) pica, 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 : 81-83

Mortoniella (Mortoniella) pica , new species

Fig. 67

Mortoniella pica has the general appearance of species in the limona subgroup, with enlarged, paired spines (possibly modified phallotremal spines) on the endophallic membrane, and with the apex of the dorsal phallic spine compressed and modified. However, it lacks the rounded apicomesal processes of tergum X that characterize members of the limona subgroup, and it possesses a small ventromesal spine on the endophallic membrane, which is not present in any of described species of that subgroup. However, it is conceivable that it could be a relatively basal or unusually modified species of the limona subgroup. Regardless of its affinity, M. pica is readily diagnosed by the structure of the apex of the dorsal phallic spine, which has a very acute ventral projection, unlike any other species of Mortoniella .

Adult —Length of forewing: male 3.6 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III present, hind wing with forks II and III. Spur formula 0:4:4. Color (in alcohol) medium brown. Wing bar not evident.

Male genitalia —Ventral process of segment VI laterally compressed, subtriangular, posteriorly directed, length slightly greater than width at base, apex acute, process not retracted anterobasally. Segment IX nearly evenly rounded anterolaterally, length greatest midlaterally, posterolateral margin rounded in dorsal half, narrowing ventrally; segment deeply mesally excised dorsally and ventrally, forming lateral lobes, separated dorsomesally by much less than ½ width of segment. Tergum X moderate in length, base with raised mesal process bearing long apical setae, lateral margins subparallel, apicomesal margin broadly U-shaped, apicolateral lobes narrow, moderately elongate, acute apically, somewhat mesally curved from lateral margin; ventrolateral lobes rounded, projecting. Inferior appendages with short, subtruncate dorsolateral lobes and short, subtriangular ventromesal projection. Mesal pockets of inferior appendage with spine-like apical processes short, posterodorsally curved. Paramere appendage moderate in length, shorter than dorsal phallic spine, relatively stout, uniform in width, acute apically, weakly arched and downcurved. Dorsal phallic spine with slight ventral protrusion in basal ½, upturned in about apical ¼, apex acute, ventral margin with acute projection at point of inflection. Phallicata short, weakly sclerotized, simple in structure, with short basodorsal projection. Endophallic membrane with short curved ventromesal spine and pair of large sclerotized endophallic spines; phallotremal spines absent.

Holotype male (alcohol)— ECUADOR: Pastaza: Puyo (27 km N), Estación Fluvia Metrica, 4.ii.1976, Spangler et al. ( UMSP000097063 ) ( NMNH).

Etymology —The name M. pica was suggested by the apex of the dorsal phallic spine of this species, somewhat resembling a pike or a woodpecker’s bill (family Picidae ).

Mortoniella (Mortoniella) rectiflexa , new specie s

Fig. 68

This is a very distinctive species, unlikely to be confused with any other described species. Especially diagnostic is the strongly upturned and widened apex of the dorsal phallic spine, which is acute apically and has minute spines on its posterior (ventral) surface. Equally diagnostic are the helical projections from the dorsal margin of the phallicata, which cause the paramere appendages to cross over one another. This character could indicate a relationship to the punensis subgroup, but other character evidence is equivocal.

Adult —Length of forewing: male 2.9-3.4 mm; female 3.0- 3.9 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III present, hind wing with fork II only. Spur formula 0:4:4. Overall color (in alcohol) medium brown. Wing bar not evident.

Male genitalia —Ventral process of segment VI large, laterally compressed, subtriangular, posteriorly directed, length about 1½ to 2 times width at base, apex acute, process not retracted anterobasally. Segment IX nearly evenly rounded anterolaterally, length greatest midlaterally, posterolateral margin distinctly rounded 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 moderate in length, lateral margins subparallel, apicomesal margin with shallow indentation, apicolateral lobes moderately elongate, subacute apically, weakly mesally curved from lateral margins; ventrolateral lobes rounded, distinctly projecting. Inferior appendages short, without distinct dorsolateral or apicoventral projections. Mesal pockets of inferior appendage with spine-like apical processes relatively elongate, posteriorly projecting, subtending ventral margin of phallicata. Paramere appendage elongate (longer than apical inflection of dorsal phallic spine), nearly uniformly narrow, apex acute; opposite appendages converging and crossing one another mesally. Dorsal phallic spine stout, with only slight ventral bulge in about middle, apex very abruptly and nearly rectilinearly upturned in about apical 1/3, spine slightly widened at point of inflection, narrowing to acute apex, posterior margin of flexed apex with numerous small spines; as viewed dorsally, very distinctly widened in about middle, less so at apical inflection. Phallicata with pair of narrow, helically curved, spine-like projections from dorsal margin, projections hooked over paramere appendages, causing them to cross over one another mesally. Endophallic membrane without ventromesal spine; phallotremal spines very small.

Holotype male (pinned)— ECUADOR: Pastaza: Puyo (27 km N) Estación Fluvia Metrica, 4.ii.1976, Spangler , et al. ( UMSP000146419 ) ( NMNH).

Paratypes — ECUADOR: Esmeralda: La Union, 3.ii.1979, JJ Anderson – 2 males, 1 female (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Napo: Tena (17 km SW), 28.v.1977, PJ Spangler and DR Givens – 1 male, 8 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Puyo , 6.v.1977, PJ Spangler and DR Givens – 1 male, 7 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Pastaza: Puyo , 5.v.1977, PJ Spangler and DR Givens – 4 males, 20 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; same locality and collectors, 6.v.1977 – 2 males, 1 female (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; same locality and collectors, 8.v.1977 – 1 male (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; same locality and collectors, 10.v.1977 – 1 male, 1 female (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; same locality and collectors, 13.v.1977 – 1 male, 6 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; same locality and collectors, 14.v.1977 – 1 male, 2 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; same locality and collectors, 16.v.1977 – 1 male (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; same locality and collectors, 21.v.1977 – 5 males, 9 females (alcohol) ( UMSP) ; Puyo , 30.i.1976, Spangler et al.– 8 males, 11 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Puyo , malaise trap, 8-10.ii.1976, Spangler et al.– 1 male (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Puyo (27 km N), Est. Fluvia Metrica , 4.ii.1976, Spangler, et al.– 3 males, 1 female (pinned), 14 males, 6 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Puyo (3 km W) 15.vii.1976, J Cohen – 6 males, 20 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Zamora- Chinchipe: Zamora , at lights, 1-5.vi.1976, A Langley et al.– 1 male (pinned) ( NMNH) ; Zamora , 4.xii.1978, JJ Anderson – 6 males, 15 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) .

Etymology —This species is named M. rectiflexa for the apex of the dorsal phallic spine, which is bent or flexed at nearly a right angle and is particularly diagnostic.

Figures

Figure 67. Mortoniella (Mortoniella) pica, new species, male genitalia. A—lateral; B—segment IX and tergum X, dorsal; C—phallic ensemble, ventral; D—dorsal phallic spine and paramere appendages, dorsal; E—ventral process of segment VI, lateral.

Figure 68. Mortoniella (Mortoniella) rectiflexa, 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.