Mortoniella acauda, Blahnik & Holzenthal, 2011

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 : 6-8

Mortoniella acauda , new species

Fig. 1

Mortoniella acauda is apparently related to a group of species, including M. albolineata ; M. dolonis , n. sp.; M. latispina , n. sp.; and M. teutona . Character similarities for this group are presented in the diagnosis for M. albolineata . All of these species have a dorsal phallic spine with a depressed, apically rounded, somewhat spatulate apex, and an endophallic membrane with distinct membranous lobes. Mortoniella acauda differs diagnostically from all the other species in this group by lacking a ventromesal projection on the fused inferior appendages; additionally, the apicomesal excision of tergum X is distinctly wider than in any of these other species. Like M. latispina and M. teutona , M. acauda lacks scale-like setae on its hind wings. Also like those species, it has a short, curved endophallic spine and elongate paramere appendages that are somewhat widened preapically.

Adult. Length of forewing: male 3.2 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III present, hind wing with fork II only. Spur formula 0:4:4. Overall color yellowish-brown. Legs yellowish, tibial spurs darker in color, contrasting with legs. Wing bar at anastamosis relatively indistinct, interrupted, marked with whitish setae.

Male genitalia. Ventral process of segment VI laterally compressed, ventrally projecting, subtriangular, wide basally, acute apically. Segment IX nearly evenly rounded anterolaterally, length greatest midlaterally, posterolateral margin weakly convexly rounded dorsally, narrowing ventrally; segment deeply excised dorsomesally and ventromesally, forming lateral lobes, lobes separated dorsomesally by much less than 1/2 width of segment. Tergum X with very wide, uniformly rounded mesal excision; lateral lobes moderately elongate, apices rounded as viewed dorsally, subacute as viewed laterally. Inferior appendages fused, without ventromesal projection; laterally, on each side, with setose, tapering, dorsally-directed lobes. Mesal pockets of fused inferior appendages with apical processes short, dorsally curved. Paramere appendages elongate, slender, slightly widened in apical 1/4th, apices acute. Dorsal phallic spine, as viewed laterally, with basal part more or less uniform in width, upturned near base, more strongly in apical 1/3rd, apex narrowed and acute; in dorsal view, somewhat widened in middle, apical 1/3rd narrow, apex rounded, spatulate (depressed). Phallicata with sclerotized, anteriorly directed process subtending dorsal phallic spine, and elongate, narrow, projecting lateral processes. Endophallic membrane with membranous dorsal lobe, paralleling dorsal phallic spine, membranous lateral lobes on either side, and sclerotized ventromesal spine; ventromesal spine short, curved, apex acute; phallotremal spines absent.

Holotype male: BRAZIL: Santa Catarina: Urubici, Cachoeira Avencal , 28°02'50"S, 049°37'00"W, 1260 m, 6.iii.1998, Holzenthal, Froehlich & Paprocki ( UMSP000068088 ) (pinned) ( MZUSP).

Etymology. This species is named M. acauda , without a tail, from the Latin word cauda or tail and referring to the absence of a narrow, ventromesal projection from the fused inferior appendages, which characterizes the group of species to which it appears to be most closely related.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Mortoniella acauda, new species, male genitalia: A—lateral; B—segment IX and tergum X, dorsal; C—phallic ensemble, ventral; D—dorsal phallic spine, dorsal.