Mortoniella (Nanotrichia) velasquezi ( 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 : 110-111

Mortoniella (Nanotrichia) velasquezi ( Flint, 1991)

Fig. 95 , 119

Mexitrichia velasquezi Flint, 1991: 22 .

Mortoniella velasquezi (Flint) : Blahnik and Holzenthal 2008: 70 [member of velasquezi group].

Mortoniella velasquezi is very similar to M. cognata , n. sp. and the two undoubtedly form a closely related species pair. Both species are characterized by having lateral lobes of the phallicata that are comparatively elongate and projecting, forming what appear to be short blunt apical lobes of the inferior appendages. The exact shape and length of these lobes appears to be variable in both species. Mortoniella velasquezi can be diagnosed by the shape of the dorsal phallic spine, which has the upturned apical part more sharply reflexed and the angular apicoventral projection more pronounced. Additionally, the ventral “belly” of the spine is more projecting and not as flat as in M. cognata . Other useful characters are the more elongate paramere appendages and more distinctly developed dorsal and ventral sclerites of the endophallic membrane. Finally, the hind wings of the male have a distinct patch of upright scale-like setae in M. velasquezi , whereas in M. cognata the setal patch of the hind wings have setae that are hair-like, rather than scale-like.

Adult —Length of forewing: male 2.5-2.9 mm; female 3.3-4.0 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III present, hind wing with fork II only. Spur formula 0:3:4. Overall color medium brown, apices of tarsi slightly paler. Tibial spurs darker than legs, contrasting in color. Forewing with narrow white wing bar at anastomosis. Males with forewings densely covered with short, adpressed, and somewhat thickened setae; those paralleling major veins in hind wings scale-like; hind wing with additional field of slightly darkened, short, semi-erect, scale-like setae.

Male genitalia —Ventral process of segment VI posteriorly projecting, narrow and slightly constricted basally, length about 4 times width at base. Segment IX with anterolateral margin rounded and distinctly produced in ventral ½, posterolateral margin nearly straight; segment deeply mesally excised dorsally and ventrally, forming lateral lobes, separated dorsomesally by more than ½ width of segment. Tergum X, as viewed laterally, relatively short and narrow, rod-like, declivous apically, basomesally with pair of setose sclerites; as viewed dorsally, short and very wide, apicomesally with deep and very wide U-shaped emargination, extending more than ½ length of tergum; ventrolateral lobes obsolete. Inferior appendage with short digitate, setose, dorsolateral projections, fused apicoventrally to spine-like projections of the mesal pockets. Mesal pockets of inferior appendage very large, with moderately elongate, thick, posterodorsally curved, spine-like, apicoventral projections. Paramere appendage short, narrow, apex acute, emerging near dorsal margin of basal segment, weakly dorsally curved. Phallobase very short, with elongate ventral rod-like projections, each strongly flared apically. Dorsal phallic spine, as viewed laterally, short and relatively wide, dorsolateral margins expanded, spine weakly reflexed in about apical 2/5, basal part with distinct projecting “belly,” ventral margin with rounded indentation at apical inflection, reflexed apex with distinctly angular projection on posterior margin, apex acute; as viewed dorsally, very wide, lateral margins subparallel, apex bluntly rounded. Phallicata short, continuous with endophallic membrane apically, laterally with relatively elongate, apically rounded, sclerotized projections, projecting beyond spine-like projections of mesal pockets of inferior appendage; projections appearing ventrally as broad, apically rounded lobes of inferior appendages. Endophallic membrane continuous with phallicata, without membranous lateral lobes, dorsomesally with strongly sclerotized, short, spine-like projection, articulating with indentation in dorsal phallic spine; ventrally with pair of short blunt sclerites (modified phallotremal spines?).

Material examined — COLOMBIA: Antioquia: Finca Velasquez, Sopetran, 14.ii.1983, OS Flint, Jr – 1 male Paratype (pinned) ( NMNH) ; Quebrada El Poso, 8 km W El Penol , 9.ii.1983, OS Flint, Jr – 1 male Paratype (pinned) ( NMNH) ; Cauca: Municipio de Inzá, Quebrada San Andrés, ca. 500 m W Restaurante “La Portada,” San Andrés de Pisimbalá , 2.58222° N, 76.04333° W, el 1750 m, 21.xii.1997, F Muñoz-Q, et al.– 7 males, 11 females (pinned) ( UMSP) ; Risaralda: 4 km E Santa Rosa de Cabal , 29.ii.1984, CM and OS Flint, Jr– 1 male (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Valle: Municipio de Buga, Río Guadalajara , “La Piscina,” ca. 4 km SE La Habana, 3.87472° N, 76.16889° W, el 1620 m, 8.i.1998, F Muñoz-Q, et al.– 1 male, 5 females (pinned) ( UMSP) ; ECUADOR: Cotopaxi: Quevedo (36 km NE), 335 m, 21.vii.1976, J Cohen– 15 males, 23 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Imbabura: Río Chota , 10.ix.1977, LE Peña G – 3 males, 2 females (pinned) ( NMNH) ; Pichincha: Río Umachaca, Forest Station Maquipucuna, 0.12500° N, 78.61667° W, 1250 m, 4-5.ix.1990, OS Flint, Jr– 1 male (pinned), 12 males, 13 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Nanegal , 1100 m, 19-20.ix.1977, LE Peña G – 7 males, 3 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; N Perucho, 18-19.ix.1977, LE Peña G – 1 male, 28 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Santo Domingo (47 km S) 29.vii.1976, J Cohen– 106 males, 10 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Santo Domingo de los Colorados (14 km E), 5.vii.1975, Langley and Cohen– 2 males (alcohol) ( NMNH) .

Distribution — Colombia, Ecuador.

Figures

Figure 95. Mortoniella (Nanotrichia) velasquezi (Flint), 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.

Figures 119-120. Mortoniella (Nanotrichia), velasquezi group species, female genitalia. 119—Mortoniella velasquezi (Flint). A—lateral; B—ventral; C—dorsal; D—glands of tergum VII. 120—Mortoniella cognata, n. sp., dorsal.