Mortoniella alicula, 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 : 47-49

Mortoniella alicula , new species

Fig. 23

From other members of the M. ormina species group, this species is notably distinguished by the structure of its dorsal phallic spine, which has pronounced T-shaped apicolateral expansions and an apex that is upturned and posteriorly recurved. The long narrow paramere appendages are also distinctive as compared to other species described from this region. Among described species, M. alicula is undoubtedly most closely related to M. ormina ( Mosely, 1939) , which also has the apex of the dorsal phallic spine similarly narrowed and posteriorly bent. Diagnostic differences include the much longer paramere appendages of M. alicula , as well as the more greatly widened dorsal phallic spine and the different armature of the phallicata.

Adult. Length of forewing: male 2.1 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III present, hind wing with fork II only. Spur formula 0:3:4 (preapical spur of mesotibia very small). Overall color medium brown. Legs yellowish, tibial spurs darker in color, contrasting with legs. Wing bar at anastamosis marked with white, contrasting setae, apices of forewings with small white setal spots at apices of veins.

Male genitalia. Ventral process of segment VI posteriorly projecting, elongate, narrow, length more than 2 times width at base; apex dorsoventrally compressed, acute as viewed laterally ( Fig. 23E ), rounded as viewed ventrally. Segment IX rounded anterolaterally, length greatest in ventral 1/2, posterolateral margin nearly linear; segment deeply excised dorsomesally and ventromesally, forming lateral lobes, lobes separated dorsomesally by more than 1/2 width of segment. Tergum X elongate, simple in structure, with very deep, narrow U-shaped mesal excision; apical lobes broadly rounded. Inferior appendages short, inconspicuous, without dorsal or ventromesal projections, more or less fused ventromesally. Mesal pockets of inferior appendages with prominent, posteriorlydirected, spine-like projections, apparently fused to ventral margin of inferior appendages. Paramere appendages very narrow, elongate, slightly widened preapically, apices acute; appendages with broad U-shaped curvature, curved downward at base and upward at apex. Dorsal phallic spine of very distinctive structure, laterally with rounded, depressed projections; apically, as viewed dorsally, greatly widened, with T-shaped lateral projections and narrow, acute, strongly posteriorly curved dorsomesal projection. Phallicata with 2 pairs of relatively short spinelike processes, dorsally with mesally-directed, attenuate processes, crossing each other mesally, laterally with shorter, laterally-directed processes. Base of endophallic membrane (or apex of phallicata) with rounded, membranous (or lightly sclerotized) lateral projections, apex of endophallic membrane with paired, rounded, membranous projections, each with needle-like, sclerotized phallotremal spine, mesally with additional short spine (possibly modified apex of phallotremal sclerite). Phallotremal sclerite evident as small rounded sclerite.

Holotype male: BRAZIL: Rio de Janeiro: Rio Macaé, Macaé de Cima , 22°23'41"S, 042°30'08"W, 1000 m, 8.iii.2002, Holzenthal, Blahnik, Paprocki & Prather ( UMSP000087906 ) (pinned) ( MZUSP).

Etymology. This species is named M. alicula , from a Latin word for wing and referring to the wing-like lateral expansions of the apical part of the dorsal phallic spine of this species.

Figures

FIGURE 23. Mortoniella alicula, 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.