Mortoniella (Nanotrichia) spangleri, 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 : 109-110

Mortoniella (Nanotrichia) spangleri , new species

Fig. 94 , 124

This is a distinctive species, unlikely to be confused with any other species in the velasquezi group. Especially diagnostic is the structure of the dorsal phallic spine, which has a patch of minute spines on its posteroventral surface. Other useful diagnostic characters include the strongly curved paramere appendages, relatively short inferior appendages, and the distinctively arched tergum X (as viewed laterally). Additionally, males have an extensive field of darkened scale-like setae on the hind wings. The female is also distinctive in that it has an arched and projecting tergum VIII.

Adult —Length of forewing: male 2.8-3.2 mm; female 3.0- 3.5 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III present, hind wing with fork II only. Spur formula 0:3:4. Overall color (in alcohol) light brown. Tibial spurs slightly darker than legs, contrasting in color. Forewing with distinct white wing bar at anastomosis. Males with scale-like setae paralleling veins in fore- and hind wing, hind wing with extensive field of darkened, 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 about ½ width of segment. Tergum X, as viewed laterally, relatively short and narrow, distinctly arched in middle; as viewed dorsally, short and moderate in width, lateral margins subparallel, apicomesally with deep emargination, extending more than ½ length of tergum, basomesally with pair of setose sclerites; ventrolateral lobes obsolete. Inferior appendage with 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, spine-like, apicoventral projections. Paramere appendage moderately elongate, narrow, distinctly curved, ventrally near base and dorsally at apex, apex acute. Phallobase very short, with elongate ventral rod-like projections, each strongly flared apically. Dorsal phallic spine, as viewed laterally, almost evenly dorsally curved from base, apex slightly inflated, ventral margin with distinct notch near middle, apparently to accommodate lightly sclerotized projection on endophallic membrane, upturned part with slight indentation bearing numerous small spines; as viewed dorsally, with distinct dorsolateral projections, widest in basal ½, narrowing apically, reflexed apex rounded. Phallicata short, continuous with endophallic membrane apically, laterally with broadly rounded sclerotized projections, surrounding mesal pockets of inferior appendage. Endophallic membrane continuous with phallicata, dorsomesally with lightly sclerotized projection, ventrally with pair of short sclerotized projections (modified phallotremal spines?), each bluntly rounded as viewed ventrally, apices with minute spines.

Holotype male (alcohol)— ECUADOR: Pastaza: Puyo , 5.v.1977, PJ Spangler and DR Givens ( UMSP000097077 ) ( NMNH).

Paratypes — ECUADOR: Napo: Puyo, 6.v.1977, PJ Spangler and DR Givens – 1 male, 1 female (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Lago Agrio (30 km E) Via a Tarapoa, 17.x.1975, A Langley – 22 males, 25 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Pastaza: Puyo, 5.v.1977, PJ Spangler and DR Givens – 5 males, 7 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; same locality and collectors, 6.v.1977 – 3 males, 2 females (alcohol) ( UMSP) ; same locality and collectors, 7.v.1977 – 3 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Puyo, 30.i.1976, Spangler et al.– 1 male, 7 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; same locality and collectors, 1-7.ii.1976 – 1 male (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; same locality and collectors, 8-11.ii.1976 – 1 female (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Puyo (27 km N) Est. Fluvia Metrica, 4.ii.1976, Spangler et al.– 3 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Puyo (16 km W), 3.ii.1976, Spangler et al.– 18 males, 41 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Tungurahua: Baños, 1798 m, 28.v.1975, Cohen and Langley – 3 males, 2 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Baños (34 km E), 25.i.1976, 1280 m, Spangler et al.– 9 males, 15 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Zamora-Chinchipe: Zamora, at lights, 1-5.vi.1976, A Langley , et al.– 1 male (pinned) ( NMNH) ; Zamora, 4.xii.1978, JJ Anderson – 3 males, 10 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) .

Etymology —We take pleasure in naming this species for Dr. Paul Spangler, retired aquatic beetle specialist at the Smithsonian Institution, who also collected many specimens of Trichoptera during his career, including the majority of type specimens of this species.

Figures

Figure 94. Mortoniella (Nanotrichia) spangleri, new species, male genitalia. A—lateral; B—segment IX and tergum X, dorsal; C—phallic ensemble, ventral; D—dorsal phallic spine and phallobase, dorsal; E—ventral process of segment VI, lateral.

Figures 121-125. Mortoniella (Nanotrichia), velasquezi group species, female genitalia.121—Mortoniella eduardoi (Rueda Martín and Gibon): A—lateral; B—dorsal. 122—Mortoniella licina, n. sp., dorsal. 123—Mortoniella venezuelensis, n. sp., dorsal. 124—Mortoniella spangleri, n. sp. A—lateral; B—dorsal. 125—Mortoniella coheni, n. sp., dorsal.