Mortoniella guairica ( Flint, 1974 )

Blahnik, Roger J. & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2011, Revision of the austral South American species of Mortoniella (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae: Protoptilinae) 2851, Zootaxa 2851 (1), pp. 1-75 : 67-69

Mortoniella guairica ( Flint, 1974)

Fig. 36

Mexitrichia guairica Flint, 1974: 12 .

Mortoniella guairica (Flint) ; Blahnik & Holzenthal 2008: 70 [incertae sedis as to species group].

This is a very distinctive species. It bears a general resemblance to members of the M. leroda group. However unlike members of that group, the lateral contour of the anterior margin segment IX of the male is widest in its ventral 1/2 and the lobes of the segment are widely separated dorsomesally. Other diagnostic features of the species include the sharply upturned and apically recurved dorsal phallic spine; the shape of the inferior appendages, which have the dorsal lobes sharply posteriorly curved; the shape of tergum X, which has its basal part inflated and apical lobes narrowly separated; and the very short phallicata and endotheca. The dorsolateral processes of the phallicata are also distinctive in being elongate and narrow.

Adult. (specimen totally cleared) Length of forewing: male 2.5 mm. Venation not discernible. Spur formula 0:4:4 (probably).

Male genitalia. (Genital capsule separated from abdomen). Ventral process of segment VI very small, laterally compressed, ventrally projecting, subtriangular, widest basally, acute apically. Segment IX concavely rounded anterolaterally, sinuously produced and length greatest in ventral 1/2; segment deeply excised dorsomesally and ventromesally, forming lateral lobes, lobes separated dorsomesally by more than 1/2 width of segment, lobes discontinuous ventrally (probably broken). Tergum X very greatly inflated and rounded basally; apicomesal incision relatively short, narrow, U-shaped, forming projecting, acute, apicodorsal lobes; ventrolateral margin rounded, setose; tergum ventromesally with pair of converging, sclerotized, anteriorly-curved lobes. Inferior appendages very short, with only slight ventromesal projection, dorsally with relatively elongate, tapering, apically acute lobes, each strongly posteriorly bent at about midlength. Mesal pockets of fused inferior appendages with apical processes short, posteroventrally curved. Paramere appendages intermediate in length (shorter than dorsal phallic spine), very narrow, uniform in width, apices acute and slightly upturned. Dorsal phallic spine, as viewed laterally, widened in middle, obtusely angled upward from ventral margin, dorsal margin gradually curved, apical part nearly vertical in orientation, apex acute, slightly reflexed. Phallicata with very narrow, pencil-like dorsolateral processes, ventral margin weakly sclerotized, slightly projecting. Endophallic membrane very short, simple in structure, without ventromesal spine; phallotremal spines absent.

Material examined. PARAGUAY: Salto del Guaira, 24°02'S, 054°16'W, 4.xii.1971, L E Peña G - 1 male (holotype, alcohol, USNM type # 72741) ( NMNH) .

Distribution. Paraguay

Figures

FIGURE 36. Mortoniella guairica (Flint), male genitalia: A—lateral; B—segment IX and tergum X, dorsal; C—phallic ensemble, ventral.