Mortoniella (Mortoniella) draconis, 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 : 59-60

Mortoniella (Mortoniella) draconis , new species

Fig. 41

This species is easily diagnosed by the structure of the mesal process of the inferior appendages, which is very asymmetrically positioned, with its base strongly arched and armed with what are apparently short papillae. The apex of the process is acutely narrowed, unlike most of the new species of the leroda subgroup considered here. The asymmetric ventral process can be located on either the right or left side (which is typical of the asymmetry of the leroda subgroup). The figured specimen has the process on the left side; a specimen with the process on the right side would obviously appear different from the illustration.

Adult —Length of forewing: male 2.6-3.0 mm; female 2.7-3.3 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III present, hind wing with forks II and III. Spur formula 0:3:4. Overall color medium brown, apices of tarsal segments and basal segments of antennae whitish or pale brown. Tibial spurs darker than legs, contrasting in color. Wing bar at anastamosis indistinct, marked with light brown setae, most evident at arculus.

Male genitalia —Ventral process of segment VI laterally compressed, short, ventrally projecting, truncately rounded apically, length slightly greater than width at base, process slightly retracted anterobasally. Segment IX nearly evenly rounded anterolaterally, length greatest midlaterally, posterolateral margin broadly rounded, narrowing ventrally; segment deeply mesally excised dorsally and ventrally, forming lateral lobes, separated dorsomesally by much less than ½ width of segment. Tergum X elongate, lateral margins subparallel, apicomesal projection only suggestively developed, apicolateral lobes relatively short, subacute, slightly mesally curved; ventrolateral lobes rounded, weakly developed. Inferior appendages with short, apically acute, dorsolateral projection (generally only unilaterally present), and elongate, very asymmetrically developed, ventromesal projection (variably appearing as emerging from either right or left side), ventromesal projection dorsally looped at base, with distinct papillae or sensilla, apex acute, tapering, not scabrous. Mesal pockets of inferior appendage with apical processes very short. Paramere appendage elongate, narrow, subequal in length to dorsal phallic spine, noticeably enlarged and indistinctly scabrous preapically, apex acute; base of appendage emerging from projecting membranous lobe. Dorsal phallic spine, as viewed laterally, with dorsal margin undulate in contour, ventral margin distinctly widened at about middle, rounded ventral projection articulating with base of phallicata, apex of spine acutely narrowed, only weakly dorsally curved; spine, in dorsal view, relatively narrow throughout length, apex tapering and very acutely narrowed. Phallicata with rounded sclerotized projections on dorsal margin. Endophallic membrane apparently simple in structure, without ventromesal spine; phallotremal spines small, spine-like, lightly sclerotized.

Holotype male (pinned)— ECUADOR: Pastaza: Puyo, 30.i.1976, Spangler et al. ( UMSP000095068 ) ( NMNH).

Paratypes — ECUADOR: Pastaza: Puyo , 5.v.1977, PJ Spangler and DR Givens – 9 males, 28 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; same locality and collectors, 6.v.1977 – 6 males, 15 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; same locality and collectors, 8.v.1977 – 4 males, 6 females (alcohol) ( UMSP) ; same locality and collectors, 14.v.1977 – 1 male, 1 female (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; same data as Holotype– 7 males, 195 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Puyo , riverside, 29.v.1975, Cohen and Langley – 3 males, 3 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Puyo (3 km N), 30.v.1975, Cohen and Langley – 1 male, 1 female (pinned) ( NMNH) ; Puyo (3 km W), 15.vii.1976, J Cohen – 19 males, 127 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) .

Etymology —This species is named M. draconis , from the Latin word draco, a fabulous lizard-like animal (dragon), and in this case pertaining to the very asymmetric and ornamented ventromesal process of the inferior appendages of this species, with some semblance of a dragon’s tail.

Figures

Figure 41. Mortoniella (Mortoniella) draconis, new species, male genitalia. A—lateral; B—segment IX and tergum X, dorsal; C—phallic ensemble, ventral; D—dorsal phallic spine, paramere appendages, and dorsolateral projections of phallicata, dorsal; E—ventral process of segment VI, lateral.