Mortoniella latispina, 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 : 24

Mortoniella latispina , new species

Fig. 10

As discussed under M. albolineata , Mortoniella latispina belongs to a group of closely related species, including M. dolonis , n. sp.; M. teutona ; and M. albolineata . All of these species have the character combination of inferior appendages with a distinct, asymmetrical mesal process, dorsal phallic spine with a depressed, apically rounded, spatulate apex, and endophallic membrane with membranous lobes. It is most similar to M. teutona ; in both species the ventral endophallic spine is relatively short and curved and the paramere appendages are somewhat widened preapically. The endophallic spine is much more prominent in the other 2 species of this group and both of these species have paramere appendages that are uniform in width throughout their length. Mortoniella latispina differs from M. teutona in several details, the most diagnostic of which is a dorsal phallic spine that is distinctly widened at the point of inflection, as viewed dorsally. This also distinguishes M. latispina from M. albolineata and M. dolonis . The major flexion of this spine is also more apical than in M. teutona . Other differences include a slightly wider mesal excavation of tergum X, appearing more U-shaped than V-shaped, and differences in the structure of the membranous lobes of the endophallic membrane. In M. latispina the dorsal lobe, which parallels the dorsal phallic spine, is short, rather than elongate, and the lateral lobe is not subdivided and is also distinctly sclerotized. However, this is only likely to be evident in specimens in which this structure is expanded.

Adult. Length of forewing: male 3.3 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III present, hind wing with fork II only. Spur formula 0:4:4. Overall color dark brown. Legs brown, apices of tarsi whitish, tibial spurs darker in color, contrasting with legs. Antennae with apical part of basal segments whitish. Wing bar at anastamosis more or less distinctly marked with whitish setae, bar narrow, discontinuous.

Male genitalia. Ventral process of segment VI laterally compressed, ventrally projecting, subtriangular, wide basally, rounded to subacute 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 U-shaped mesal excision; lateral lobes moderately elongate, apices subacute as viewed dorsally and laterally. Inferior appendages with prominent and somewhat asymmetrically developed ventromesal projection; laterally, on each side, with setose, tapering, dorsally-directed lobes. Mesal pockets of fused inferior appendages with apical processes short, slightly dorsally curved. Paramere appendages elongate, narrow, slightly widened in apical 1/3rd, upturned apically, apices acute. Dorsal phallic spine, as viewed laterally, more or less uniform in width, gradually upturned, weakly near base, more strongly in apical 1/3rd, apex narrowed and acute; in dorsal view, very distinctly widened at about 2/3rds length, apical 1/3rd narrow, apex rounded, spatulate (depressed). Phallicata with sclerotized, anteriorly directed process, subtending dorsal phallic spine, and moderately elongate, narrow, projecting lateral processes. Endophallic membrane with short membranous dorsal lobe, subtending dorsal phallic spine, weakly sclerotized, paired dorsolateral lobes, and sclerotized ventromesal spine; ventral spine relatively short, curved, apex acute; phallotremal spines absent.

Holotype male: BRAZIL: Rio de Janeiro: Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, Rio Campo Belo, trail to Veu da Noiva , 22°25'42"S, 044°37'10"W, 1310 m, 24.xi.2001, Holzenthal, Blahnik, Neto & Paprocki ( UMSP000047063 ) (pinned) ( MZUSP).

Paratypes: BRAZIL: Rio de Janeiro: same locality and date as holotype — 1 male, 2 females (pinned) ( UMSP); Nova Friburgo , 22°16'00"S, 042°31'59"W, 950 m, 20.iv.1977, C & O Flint — 1 male (pinned) ( NMNH) .

Etymology. This species is named M. latispina, Latin for wide spine, in reference to the widened dorsal phallic spine of the male, which helps to distinguish this species from its closely related congeners.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Mortoniella latispina, new species, male genitalia: A—lateral; B—segment IX and tergum X, dorsal; C—phallic ensemble, ventral; D—dorsal phallic spine and paramere appendage, dorsal.