Mortoniella (Mortoniella) parameralda, 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 : 61-62

Mortoniella (Mortoniella) parameralda , new species

Fig. 43

This species is most similar to M. meralda (Mosely) , agreeing in a number of details, especially in having an elongate, asymmetric mesal process on the inferior appendages, a phallicata lacking distinct upright lateral processes, and in the absence of a ventromesal endophallic spine. Also, in both species, the mesal process of the inferior appendages is uniformly narrow throughout, rather than distinctly enlarged apically. Mortoniella parameralda differs from M. meralda in the form of the paramere appendages; in both species they are relatively elongate, but they are more uniformly wide in M. meralda , flattened and ribbon-like, and lack scabrous apices, whereas in M. parameralda they are narrow, except preapically, scabrously developed, and distinctly upturned. The dorsal phallic spine in M. parameralda also appears to be more narrowed apically, very attenuate and needle-like. In the form of the paramere appendages, M. parameralda closely resembles M. ruedae , n. sp., but that species has distinct upright processes on the phallicata, and also a small ventromesal endophallic spine. Mortoniella parameralda was found to occur sympatrically with M. furcula , n. sp., which it also generally resembles. It can be distinguished from that species in lacking a forked ventromesal process of the inferior appendages and also in the orientation of the paramere appendages, broad and downward curved in M. furcula and upturned apically in M. parameralda .

Adult —Length of forewing: male 2.3-2.6 mm; female 3.0 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III present, hind wing with forks II and III. Spur formula 0:3:4. Overall color (in alcohol) yellowish brown (specimens faded and largely denuded).

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 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 elongate, lateral margins subparallel, apicomesal projection only suggestively developed, apicolateral lobes elongate, subacute, slightly mesally curved; ventrolateral lobes rounded, weakly developed. Inferior appendages with short rounded dorsolateral projections, and very elongate, asymmetric ventromesal projection, apex of ventromesal projection scabrous, projecting nearly straight, not or only indistinctly inflated. Mesal pockets of inferior appendage with apical processes very short. Paramere appendage elongate, narrow, subequal in length to dorsal phallic spine, distinctly enlarged and scabrous preapically, apex acute. Dorsal phallic spine, as viewed laterally, with dorsal margin undulate in contour, ventral margin widened in basal ½, apical 1/3 very acutely narrowed, needlelike, distinctly dorsally inflected; spine in dorsal view, widened through middle, apex very acutely narrowed. Phallicata relatively elongate and tube-like, without sclerotized dorsolateral projections. Endophallic membrane inflated, with pair of projecting lateral membranous lobes, ventromesal spine absent; phallotremal spines indistinct, rounded, weakly sclerotized.

Holotype male (alcohol)— ECUADOR: Los Rios: Quevedo (56 km N), 28-29.vii.1976, J Cohen ( UMSP000124888 ) ( NMNH).

Paratypes — ECUADOR: Cotopaxi: Latacunga (133 km W), 329 m, 2.vii.1975, Langley and Cohen – 1 male, 1 female (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Quevedo (36 km NE), 335 m, 21.vii.1976, J Cohen – 2 males (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Esmeraldas: La Union, 3.ii.1979, JJ Anderson – 1 male (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Los Rios: same data as Holotype– 8 males (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Pichincha: Santo Domingo (47 km S), 29.vii.1976, J Cohen – 15 males (alcohol) ( NMNH), 3 males (alcohol) ( UMSP) .

Etymology —This species is named M. parameralda from the Greek para, meaning beside or near, and referring to the close similarity of this species to M. meralda .

Figures

Figure 43. Mortoniella (Mortoniella) parameralda, 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.