Mortoniella (Mortoniella) chicana Sykora, 1999

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 : 18-19

Mortoniella (Mortoniella) chicana Sykora, 1999

Fig. 5

Mortoniella chicana Sykora 1999: 378 [member of bilineata subgroup]; Blahnik and Holzenthal 2008: 70 [member of bilineata group].

This species can be distinguished from others in the bilineata subgroup by several distinctive characters. Perhaps the most readily diagnostic is the shape of the inferior appendages, which have narrow, dorsally curved, projections, as viewed laterally. Also distinctive is the shape of the dorsal phallic spine, which is very strongly bent or “humped” in the middle and has a ventral “dip” before the dorsally reflexed apical bend. The ventral sclerites of the phallicata are not particularly elongate or strongly sclerotized, but they are distinctive in being strongly arched basally, along with the spinelike projections from the mesal pockets of the inferior appendages. An additional diagnostic character is that tergum X, as viewed dorsally, is more evenly rounded apically (and thus less truncate) in M. chicana than in other species of the subgroup.

Adult —Length of forewing: male 4.2 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. Legs same color as wings, tibial spurs darker, contrasting with legs. Palps and basal segments of antenna blackish-brown, base of antenna contrasting with subsequent whitish or light brown segments, apex of antenna dark brown (like wings). Forewing with 2 distinct white wing bars, 1 at anastomosis and 1 on proximal part of wing, approximately midway between base and anastomosis.

Male genitalia— Ventral process of segment VI posteriorly projecting, prominent, narrow basally, length about 3 times width at base. Tergum VIII relatively narrow, subtending ventral margin of segment IX, membranous connection to tergum IX (apparently) elongate. Segment IX with anterolateral margin rounded and produced in ventral half, posterolateral margin with distinctly angular projection in dorsal half; segment deeply mesally excised dorsally and ventrally, forming lateral lobes, separated dorsomesally by more than ½ width of segment. Tergum X elongate, margins rounded laterally, subparallel in demarcated dorsal region, laterally with short acute, finger-like, lateral lobes, each with prominent apical seta; apex of tergum very distinctly sclerotized, lateral margins rounded and converging mesally (not truncate), with ventrolateral margins incurved and converging mesally to form linear “seam,” mesal notch very narrow; tergum ventromesally with paired, lightly sclerotized, ventromesal lobes in basal half, each with short setae. Inferior appendages with short angular, retrorse, dorsolateral lobes and distinctive and prominent paired, upward-curved, lateral lobes; lobes widely separated, as viewed ventrally, with short angular, closely apposed, mesal projections on posteromesal margin. Mesal pockets of inferior appendage with elongate, narrow, strongly arched, spine-like, apicoventral projections, conforming to arched ventral margin of phallicata. Paramere appendage moderately elongate, narrow, nearly uniform in width, apex acute, extending more than ½ length of dorsal phallic spine; basal segment of paramere articulating near base of dorsal phallic spine. Phallobase without evident dorsomesal apodeme. Dorsal phallic spine, as viewed laterally, with dorsal margin very strongly and distinctively arched, sinuously and nearly rectilinearly upturned in about apical 1/ 6th, with slight dip at point of inflection, apex of spine rounded; base of spine narrow and stalk-like, abruptly and strongly widened on ventral margin in basal ½, forming acute ventral projection, spine narrowing apically from projection; spine, as viewed dorsally, narrow in width throughout length. Phallicata with sclerotized basodorsal projection, articulating with angular ventral projection of dorsal phallic spine, basodorsal projection with lateral margins forming short rounded lobes; phallicata ventrally with pair of arched and rather weakly sclerotized lobes, extending about same length as apex of paramere appendages. Endophallic membrane simple in structure, with only weakly developed membranous lateral lobes, dorsally with sclerotized mesal “pocket,” to accommodate apical inflection of dorsal phallic spine; phallotremal spines absent.

Material examined — ECUADOR: Napo: Río Jondachi, 30 km N Tena , 950 m, 10.ix.1990, OS Flint, Jr– 1 male Paratype (pinned) ( NMNH) ; Zamora-Chinchipe: 6 km E Zumbi , 980 m, 21.ix.1990, OS Flint, Jr– 1 male Paratype (pinned) ( NMNH) .

Distribution — Ecuador.

Figures

Figure 5. Mortoniella (Mortoniella) chicana Sykora, 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.