Mortoniella (Mortoniella) brevis, 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 : 47-48

Mortoniella (Mortoniella) brevis , new species

Fig. 29 , 112

Mortoniella brevis , n. sp. is perhaps most similar overall to M. atenuata Flint , especially because of its similarly shaped paramere appendages, which are broadly forked, with the ventral projection of the fork more elongate. Mortoniella brevis is the only species in the atenuata subgroup to have inferior appendages very short, without elongate ventral projections and thus is easily diagnosed based on this character. As an additional character difference, the apicolateral lobes of tergum X are also more rounded in M. brevis than in M. atenuata .

Adult —Length of forewing: male 3.0- 3.5 mm, female 3.4-4.0 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. Tibial spurs somewhat darker than legs, not strongly contrasting in color. Wing bar absent in male, forewing sometimes marked with whitish setae at arculus in female. Male with both surfaces of fore- and hind wings densely covered with short prostrate scale-like setae; female with unmodified setation.

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. Tergum VIII relatively wide (nearly as wide as previous segment), subtending ventral margin of segment IX, anterior margin of tergum with evident apodeme, posterior margin densely setose; membranous connection to tergum IX elongate, ballooned when expanded, surface distinctly textured. Segment IX nearly evenly rounded anterolaterally, length greatest midlaterally, posterolateral margin very slightly projecting, narrowing ventrally; segment deeply mesally excised dorsally and ventrally, forming lateral lobes, separated dorsomesally by much less than ½ width of segment. Tergum X short and strongly sclerotized, with deep U-shaped mesal excision, extending more than ½ length of segment; mesally with short sclerotized, apically rounded, ventral projection, apparently articulating with dorsal phallic spine. Inferior appendages with tapering setose dorsolateral lobes and very short acute ventral lobes. Mesal pockets of inferior appendage with apical processes short, dorsally curved. Paramere appendages relatively short, widely forked near base, forming 2 narrow, apically acute projections, ventral projection longer than dorsal one; fused basal segments of paramere articulating with dorsal phallic spine before sinuous middle flexure. Phallobase with rounded, laterally compressed, dorsomesal apodeme. Dorsal phallic spine, as viewed laterally, more or less uniform in width, broadly S-shaped over its length, apex acutely narrowed and upturned; in dorsal view, nearly uniform in width throughout length. Phallicata very short, with short sclerotized dorsal projection and short rounded ventral lobe. Endophallic membrane short, with prominent pair of strongly sclerotized, spine-like sclerites on basodorsal margin (possibly phallotremal sclerites), and very small mesal spine distal to basal sclerites; ventrally with short curved, lightly sclerotized, ventromesal spine.

Holotype male (alcohol)— VENEZUELA: Barinas: Río Singüis in Caño Grande , 8.40000° N, 70.77417° W, 520 m, 22.iii.1997, Holzenthal ( UMSP00092465 ) ( UMSP).

Paratypes — ECUADOR: Napo: Puyo , 6.v.1977, PJ Spangler and DR Givens – 1 male, 2 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Puerto Nuevo , 8.vii.1976, J Cohen – 1 male, 1 female (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Tena (17 km SW), 28.v.1977, PJ Spangler and DR Givens – 3 males, 21 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Río Misahuallí, Archidona , 650 m, 11.ix.1990, OS Flint, Jr – 1 male, 1 female (pinned) ( NMNH) ; Pastaza: Puyo , 5.v.1977, PJ Spangler and DR Spangler – 4 males, 11 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; same locality and collectors, 6.v.1977 – 1 male (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; same locality and collectors 10.v.1977 – 2 males (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; same locality and collectors, 13.v.1977 – 9 males, 16 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, 3 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; same locality and collectors, 21.v.1977 – 5 males, 7 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Puyo , 30.i.1976, Spangler et al.– 15 males, 3 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; same locality and collectors, malaise trap, 1-7.ii.1976 – 1 male (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Puyo (27 km N) Est. Fluvia Metrica , 4.ii.1976, Spangler et al.– 2 males (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; VENEZUELA: Barinas: same data as Holotype– 2 males (pinned), 8 males (alcohol) ( UMSP), 4 males, 6 females (alcohol) ( MIZA) ; Río Santo Domingo , 17.ii.1976, CM and OS Flint, Jr – 40 males, 29 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Zulia: El Tucuco, Sierra de Perija , montane forest, 28-29.i.1978, JB Heppner – 1 male (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Perijo El Tucuco, Missíon El Tucuco, Río El Tucucu , 1/ 2 km from church, 1-5.x.1979, HM Savage – 4 males (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; El Tucuco (45 km SW of Machiques), 5-6.vi.1976, AS Menke and D Vincent – 1 male, 10 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) .

Etymology —This species is named M. brevis , from the Latin word brevis , meaning short, in reference to the short inferior appendages of this species, which helps distinguish it from closely related species.

Figures

Figure 29. Mortoniella (Mortoniella) brevis, new species, male genitalia. A—lateral; B—segment IX and tergum X, dorsal; C—phallic ensemble, ventral; D—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.