Mortoniella (Nanotrichia) macarenica ( Flint, 1974 )

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 : 98-99

Mortoniella (Nanotrichia) macarenica ( Flint, 1974)

Fig. 82 , 118

Mexitrichia macarenica Flint, 1974: 11 .

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

This tiny species is a closely related sister species to M. usseglioi (Rueda Martín and Gibon) . Both species have an elongate tergum X with a deep mesal invagination and a dorsal phallic spine that lacks lateral projections and has its apex upturned and weakly bifurcate. It also bears some similarity to M. aequalis (Flint) , as noted in the diagnosis for that species. Mortoniella macarenica differs from M. usseglioi in having only 2 pairs of lateral “paramere” spines, rather than 3. One of these pairs probably represents processes from the basal structure of the paramere, but the other seems to be a true paramere appendage. The latter extends dorsally over, rather than crossing under, the phallic apparatus. This is the most readily observed difference between the two species. The female genitalia of both this species ( Fig. 118) and M. usseglioi ( Fig. 117) are distinctive in having very elongate ventrolateral processes, but otherwise are typical of members of the ormina group. The female of Mortoniella macarenica can be distinguished from M. usseglioi in that the setose, shelf-like projections of segment IX are less protruding, as viewed dorsally.

Adult —Length of forewing: male 1.7-2.0 mm; female 1.9-2.3 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III present, fork II with very long stalk, hind wing with fork II only; both wings narrow, acute apically. Spur formula 0:3:4. Overall color (in alcohol) yellowish-brown. Tibial spurs short, apparently same color as legs. Forewing with distinct wing bar at anastomosis. Males with scale-like setae paralleling veins of both fore- and hind wings.

Male genitalia —Ventral process of segment VI posteriorly projecting, short, narrow basally, length about 2½ times width at base. Segment VIII relatively narrow. Segment IX with anterolateral margin rounded and distinctly produced in ventral half, posterolateral margin nearly straight; segment deeply mesally excised dorsally and ventrally, forming lateral lobes, separated dorsomesally by about ½ width of segment. Tergum X elongate, lateral margins subparallel, slightly invaginated in middle; apex of tergum with deep V-shaped emargination, extending less than ½ length of tergum; apicolateral lobes simple, subacute apically, formed by mesal invagination; tergum, in lateral view, with shallow, rounded, apicolateral incision, forming angularly projecting ventrolateral lobe. Inferior appendages with short upright dorsolateral lobes. Mesal pockets of inferior appendage small, with very elongate, narrow, posteriorly-directed, spine-like, apicoventral projections. Paramere appendage elongate, narrow, nearly uniform in width, apex acute, extending about same length as apical inflection of dorsal phallic spine; basal segment of parameres, lateral to paramere appendage, forming rounded lateral sclerite with elongate spine-like projection from dorsal margin, slightly longer than paramere appendage. Phallobase with short rounded, lightly sclerotized, dorsomesal apodeme; ventrally with short ventral rod-like projections, not flared apically. Dorsal phallic spine, as viewed laterally, nearly uniform in width, strongly upturned in about apical 1/3, slightly widened preapically, apex acute; as viewed dorsally, slightly widened in basal ½, apex weakly divided mesally, forming 2 acute apical projections. Phallicata distinctly tube-like, without basal projection, apicolateral margins rounded. Endophallic membrane apparently short, without spines (but with indistinct apical sclerite); phallotremal spines absent.

Material examined — ECUADOR: Napo: Pano , 580 m, 12.ix.1990, OS Flint, Jr – 1 male (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; 5.2 km SW Pano , 640 m, 13.ix.1990, OS Flint, Jr – 1 male (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Santa Cecilia , 16.v.1975, PJ Spangler – 2 males (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Lago Agrio (5 km N), 26.ix.1975, A Langley – 1 male (pinned), 4 males, 2 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Pastaza: Puyo , 13.v.1977, PJ Spangler and DR Givens – 3 males, 11 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; same locality and collectors, 17.v.1977 – 2 males, 1 female (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; same locality and collectors, 21.v.1977 – 13 males, 41 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Puyo (27 km N) Est. Fluvia Metrica , 4.ii.1976, Spangler, et al.– 6 males, 15 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Zamora-Chinchipe: Río Chicaña , 9 km N Yanzatza, 880 m, 20.ix.1990, OS Flint, Jr – 1 male, 1 female (alcohol) ( UMSP) .

Distribution — Colombia, Ecuador.

Figures

Figure 82. Mortoniella (Nanotrichia) macarenica (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.