Mortoniella caudicula, Blahnik & Holzenthal, 2008

Blahnik, Roger J. & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2008, Revision of the Mexican and Central American species of Mortoniella (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae: Protoptilinae), Zootaxa 1711 (1), pp. 1-72 : 24

Mortoniella caudicula , new species

Fig. 9

This species is most similar to Mortoniella meralda and M. stilula , n. sp, resembling these species in having an elongate, asymmetrically developed apicomesal process from the inferior appendage, a simple phallicata without dorsal processes, and in lacking an endophallic spine. It can be diagnosed from these species by having the apex of the apicomesal process of the inferior appendage acute, without scabrous apex or preapical spine, and in having the mesal projection of tergum X very elongate and produced.

Adult. Length of forewing: male 2.4–2.7 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III, hind wing with forks II and III. Overall color (in alcohol) medium brown. Wing bar at anastamosis not evident. Ventral process of abdominal segment VI (male) short, ventrally oriented, rounded or subtruncate apically, slightly constricted basally at anterior margin.

Male genitalia. Segment IX nearly evenly rounded anterolaterally, length greatest midlaterally, posterolateral margin forming rounded projection in dorsal half, narrowing ventrally; segment deeply mesally excised dorsally and ventrally, dorsal excision narrow, much less than half width of segment. Tergum X with very elongate, subacute apicomesal projection and projecting lateral lobes, lateral lobes with apices narrowed, acute, and mesally curved. Inferior appendage with distinctly asymmetrically developed apicomesal projection, apicomesal projection relatively elongate, very narrow and sinuously curved, apically tapered and acuminate; basolaterally, with short, rounded projection on each side; mesal pockets of inferior appendage with apical processes short, dorsally curved. Paramere appendages very elongate, narrow, incurved at base, sinuously curved outward at midlength, converging apically, apical fourth widenend and flattened, apices acuminate. Dorsal phallic spine with basoventral bulge, apical part sinuously, dorsally curved; as viewed dorsally, with apex acute. Phallicata relatively elongate, narrow, ventral apex sclerotized and projecting, dorsally without projections, basoventrally with minute microsetae. Endophallic membrane short, simple, without apicoventral spine.

Holotype male: COSTA RICA: Alajuela: Río Pizote , ca. 5 km (air) S Brasilia, 10°58'19"N, 085°20'42"W, 390 m, 12.iii.1986, Holzenthal & Fasth ( UMSP000118721 ) (alcohol) ( UMSP).

Paratypes: COSTA RICA: Alajuela: Río Pizote , ca. 5 km N Dos Rios, 10°56'53"N, 085°17'28"W, 470 m, 9.iii.1986, Holzenthal & Fasth — 1 male (alcohol) ( UMSP) ; same locality and date as holotype — 10 males (alcohol) ( UMSP) ; 4 males (alcohol) ( NMNH) .

Etymology. This species is named M. caudicula , as a diminutive derived from the Latin word cauda, meaning tail, and referring to the sinuous tail-like apicomesal process of the inferior appendage.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Mortoniella caudicula, new species. Male genitalia: A—lateral; B—segment IX and tergum X, dorsal; C— phallic ensemble, ventral.