Mortoniella (Mortoniella) roldani Flint, 1991

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 : 22-24

Mortoniella (Mortoniella) roldani Flint, 1991

Fig. 9 , 97

Mortoniella roldani Flint 1991: 23 ; Sykora 1999: 378 [member of the bilineata group].

Mortoniella similis Sykora 1999: 380 [member of bilineata subgroup]; Blahnik and Holzenthal 2008: 70 [member of bilineata group]; Blahnik and Holzenthal 2011: 63 [member of bilineata subgroup]. New Synonym.

This species is very similar to M. hamata , n. sp., as discussed in the diagnosis for that species. Both species have narrow paired ventromesal processes on the inferior appendages and relatively elongate and distinct ventral sclerites on the phallicata. As compared to M. hamata , the paired mesal processes of the inferior appendages are less curved, in lateral view, and lack apical barbs or hooks. These processes vary somewhat in length and appear to have small sensilla or short setae in M. roldani (sensilla in the paratype examined and most other specimens, distinct short setae in one specimen from Colombia). The ventral sclerites of the phallicata, as viewed ventrally, have their apicolateral margins distinctly convexly rounded or spatulate in M. roldani ( Fig. 9C ), whereas they are nearly straight or slightly concave in M. hamata ( Fig. 6C ); the converse is true of the apicomesal margins of the same structures, which are nearly straight in M. roldani and weakly convex in M. hamata . An additional difference is in the shape of tergum X, which is shorter in M. roldani , with the apical sclerotized part shorter than the rounded basal part, and with a characteristic wide separation of the apical lobes on the ventral margin. We examined paratypes of both M. similis Sykora and M. roldani Flint and found no significant differences ( Mortoniella similis was compared to and differentiated from M. bilineata , rather than M. roldani , in its original description).

Adult —Length of forewing: male 3.5-4.7 mm; female 4.8-5.2 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 slightly darker, not distinctly contrasting with legs. Antennae with several segments after basal 4 or 5 whitish, contrasting with basal and apical segments. Forewing with 2 distinct white wing bars, 1 at anastomosis and 1 on proximal part of wing, approximately midway between base and anastomosis, setae of bands with turquoise iridescence at some light angles; apex of forewing with fringe of whitish setae.

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 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 moderately elongate, lateral margins rounded, laterally with acute, finger-like lateral lobes, each with prominent apical seta; apex of tergum distinctly sclerotized, truncate, shorter than basal projection, with ventrolateral margins incurved and nearly converging mesally (typically separated by distinct gap), apicodorsally with lightly sclerotized connection near apex (mesal notch nearly absent); tergum ventromesally with paired, lightly sclerotized, rounded, ventromesal lobes in basal half, each with short setae. Inferior appendage with short rounded lateral lobe, usually with acute posterior projection, and paired narrow ventromesal lobes, each with several small papillae or short setae. Mesal pockets of inferior appendage with moderately elongate, sinuous, posteriorly-directed, spine-like, apicoventral projections. Paramere appendage elongate, narrow, nearly uniform in width, usually with distinct curve near apex, apex acute, extending nearly as far as dorsal phallic spine, subequal in length to ventral lobes of phallicata; fused basal segments of parameres articulating near base of dorsal phallic spine. Phallobase with evident rounded, laterally compressed, dorsomesal apodeme. Dorsal phallic spine, as viewed laterally, with dorsal margin sinuous, strongly curved and arched at base, sinuously and nearly rectilinearly upturned in apical 1/4, apex of spine rounded; base of spine narrow, curved and stalk-like, moderately widened on ventral margin at about basal ½, forming angular ventral projection; spine, as viewed dorsally, nearly uniformly narrow in width throughout length, apex rounded. Phallicata with sclerotized basodorsal projection, articulating with angular ventral projection of dorsal phallic spine, basodorsal projection with lateral margins forming rounded and distinctly projecting lobes; phallicata ventrally with elongate, narrow, sclerotized lobes, extending about same length as paramere appendages; apices of lobes, as viewed ventrally, distinctly rounded or spatulate on lateral margins, nearly straight on mesal margins. Endophallic membrane simple in structure, with short membranous lateral lobes; phallotremal spines absent.

Material examined — COLOMBIA: Antioquia: Km 50, Río Aurra San Jeronimo, 14.ii.1983, OS Flint, Jr , 1 male Paratype (pinned) ( NMNH) ; Valle: Municipio de Buenaventura, Río Escalerete , 1 km E casa de “AquaValle” (ca. 16 km SE Cordoba), 3.82722° N, 76.87083° W, el 210 m, 2.xii.1997, F Muñoz-Q et al., 1 male (pinned) ( UMSP) ; ECUADOR: Pichincha: Santo Domingo de los Colorados, 14 km E, 5.vii.1975, Langley and Cohen , 1 male Paratype ( M. similis ) ( NMNH) ; VENEZUELA: Zulia: Parque Nacional Perijá, Río Negro in Toromo, 10.051° N, 72.712° W, el 360 m, 15.i.1994, Holzenthal, Cressa , Rincón , 24 males, 6 females (pinned) ( UMSP) .

Distribution — Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela.

— catherinae subgroup

Included species: Mortoniella catherinae , n. sp.

As defined here, this group includes only a single unusual species. We initially placed the species with the “unplaced species” in the subgenus Mortoniella , because of the apparent absence of a mesal invagination of segment VIII in the female genitalia and the presence of other characters inferred to be primitive and which also characterize a number of the “unplaced species,” including a segment IX with a broadly rounded anterior margin, inferior appendage with an elongate, retrorsely curved, dorsal appendage, and elongate spine-like, projections from the mesal pockets of the inferior appendages. However, close examination shows that there is a very slight invagination in the dorsal margin of segment VIII of the female, although the posteromarginal setae remain evenly spaced and not clustered on either side of the invagination. The character is only suggestively developed, but its presence would allow its inclusion in the bilineata group, as it is strictly defined here. Other characters clearly show a relationship with the bilineata group. Characters indicating this include the very angular ventral margin of the dorsal phallic spine, which is also very abruptly upturned apically; the presence of a distinct mesal apodeme on the dorsal margin of the phallicata, which articulates with the dorsal phallic spine; and an elongate, narrow tergum X, with strongly sclerotized apicolateral lobes and also angular ventrolateral lobes. It seems likely that this is the most basal member of the bilineata group recognized to date. However, the absence of some of the synapomorphies listed above in the flinti and quinuas subgroups makes its definitive placement uncertain.

Figures

Figure 6. Mortoniella (Mortoniella) hamata, 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.

Figure 9. Mortoniella (Mortoniella) roldani Flint, male genitalia. A—lateral; B—segment IX and tergum X, dorsal; C—phallic ensemble, ventral; D—ventral process of segment VI, lateral.

Figures 97-99. Mortoniella (M.) species, wings. 97—Mortoniella roldani Flint [bilineata group, bilineata subgroup]. A—forewing; B—hind wing. 98—Mortoniella tusci, n. sp. [bilineata group, flinti subgroup]. A—forewing; B—hind wing. 99—Mortoniella cornuta n. sp. [unplaced to species group]. A—forewing; B—hind wing.