Mortoniella (Mortoniella) silacea, Blahnik & Holzenthal, 2017

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 : 31-32

Mortoniella (Mortoniella) silacea , new species

Fig. 16

This species probably bears the greatest overall resemblance to M. denticulata Sykora , especially because of the minute spines near the apex of the dorsal phallic spine, which is also distinctly broadened and club-shaped apically (as viewed laterally). Mortoniella langleyae , n. sp., also has small spines on the apex of the dorsal phallic spine, but the spine is greatly narrowed apically, in lateral view, and its general resemblance to M silacea is not very strong. Mortoniella silacea is more distinctly golden in coloration and differs in a number of other details from M. denticulata . Very distinctive is the nearly rectilinear angle on the posterior margin of segment IX. Other differences from M. denticulata include the structure of the inferior appendage, which has a ventral apex that is posteriorly-directed and nearly straight, rather than strongly arched; ventrolateral projections on tergum X that are only very narrowly separated from the dorsal part of the tergum; a ventral margin of the dorsal phallic spine that is obtusely, rather than acutely, angled; and the absence of spines on the membranous lateral projections of the endophallic membrane.

Adult —Length of forewing: male 6.1 mm; female 7.2 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III present, hind wing with forks II, III, and V. Spur formula 0:4:4. Overall color of male, including dorsal side of forewings, head, legs, and base of antennae, golden-orange, female lightly darker. Wing membrane of fore- and hind wings somewhat infuscated, setae on ventral side of forewings and hind wings dark brown. Palps and apices of antennae dark brown. Tibial spurs brownish-black, contrasting with legs. Wing bars absent.

Male genitalia —Ventral process of segment VI posteriorly projecting, short, narrow basally, length about 2 times width at base. Tergum VIII relatively narrow, subtending ventral margin of segment IX, dorsal margin somewhat widened, membranous connection to tergum IX moderately elongate. Segment IX with anterolateral margin rounded and produced in ventral half, posterolateral margin with nearly rectilinearly 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, base of segment inflated, lateral margins subparallel, apex of tergum with deep V-shaped mesal incision, apex truncate, sclerotized, but not forming evident “cap” (only suggestively developed), tergum ventrolaterally with tapering, apically acute, lateral lobes, each with elongate apical seta, lobes narrowly separated from dorsal part of tergum; tergum ventromesally with paired, rounded and sclerotized, ventromesal lobes in basal half, each with short setae. Inferior appendages with narrow, lightly sclerotized, apically recurved, dorsolateral lobes and paired narrow, apically acute, apicoventral lobes, each with short acute projection on ventral surface at about midlength. Mesal pockets of inferior appendage with very elongate, posteriorly-directed, spine-like, apicoventral projections. Fused basal segments of parameres articulating near middle of stalk-like basal part of dorsal phallic spine, paramere appendages relatively short, narrow, acute apically. Phallobase with relatively small rounded, laterally compressed, dorsomesal apodeme. Dorsal phallic spine, as viewed laterally, with dorsal margin strongly curved basally, then straight, and strongly, nearly rectilinearly, upturned in about apical 1/3; base of spine narrow, stalk-like, strongly curved, spine distinctly widened on ventral margin in basal ½, forming obtuse, subangular, ventral projection, apical part of spine relatively wide, apex rounded, slightly widened and knob-like, with small lateral spines in about apical 1/3; spine, as viewed dorsally, slightly widened in middle, basal and apical parts narrow, apex compressed. Phallicata with sclerotized basodorsal projection, articulating with angular ventral projection of dorsal phallic spine; phallicata ventrally with moderately elongate, subparallel, lightly sclerotized, lobes, extending slightly past elongate spine-like projections of mesal pockets of inferior appendages. Endophallic membrane with prominent, membranously pleated, lateral lobes; phallotremal spines absent.

Holotype male (pinned)— COLOMBIA: Cauca: Municipio de Silvi, Río Piendamó, ca. 5 km NE Silvia , 2.63194° N, 76.33806° W, 2610 m, 30.xii.1997, F Muñoz-Q et al., ( UMSP000209642 ) ( UMSP).

Paratypes — COLOMBIA: Cauca: same data as holotype, 2 females (pinned) ( UMSP) ; ECUADOR: Bolivar: W Pilalo , 1800 m, 9-10.x.1977, LE Peña G, 1 male (pinned) ( NMNH) .

Etymology —This species is named M. silacea from the Latin word silaceus, the color of yellow ochre, and referring to the color of the forewings of this species.

Figures

Figure 16. Mortoniella (Mortoniella) silacea,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.