Mortoniella (Mortoniella) hodgesi Flint, 1963

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 : 40-41

Mortoniella (Mortoniella) hodgesi Flint, 1963

Fig. 24 , 109

Mortoniella hodgesi Flint, 1963: 470 ; Sykora 1999: 386 [member of bilineata subgroup]; Blahnik and Holzenthal 2008: 70 [member of bilineata group].

This species, as noted above, is distinctive in a number of details. Particularly diagnostic is the shape and structure of tergum X, which has a very deep mesal invagination and elongate, curved apicolateral processes with elongate setae. The inferior appendages are simple in structure, without pronounced dorsolateral projections, and with a single broad, tapering mesal projection. The ventral projection of segment VI is also very small and slender, compared to most species of the bilineata group, with the usual posterolateral sclerotized line either absent or only minimally developed ( Fig. 24E ).

Adult —Length of forewing: male 4.7 mm; female 5.2 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III present, hind wing with forks II, III, and V. Spur formula 0:4:4. Overall color (in alcohol) dark brown (fuscous), tibiae and tarsi slightly paler. Tibial spurs darker than tibiae and tarsi, contrasting in color. Forewing without apparent wing bands. Head noticeably small.

Male genitalia —Ventral process of segment VI posteriorly projecting, short and very narrow, length about 3 times width at base, process without sclerotized posterolateral line (in specimens examined). Tergum VIII relatively narrow, subtending ventral margin of segment IX, membranous connection to tergum IX elongate. Segment IX with anterolateral margin rounded and produced in ventral half, posterolateral margin with distinctly 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 elongate, lateral margins broadly curved in dorsal view, ventrolateral lobes acute, tapering,,, each with prominent apical seta; apex of tergum, in dorsal view with deep U-shaped mesal invagination, extending nearly ½ length of segment, apicolaterally with distinctly sclerotized and ventromesally curved projections, dorsum of tergum with prominent elongate, curved setae; tergum ventromesally with paired, lightly sclerotized, ventromesal lobes with short setae, lobes retracted and not directly visible in lateral view. Inferior appendages with very short rounded dorsolateral lobes and single tapering, deltoid ventromesal lobe. Mesal pockets of inferior appendage with short, posteriorly-directed, spine-like, apicoventral projections, projecting somewhat below ventral margin of phallicata. Paramere appendage relatively short, nearly uniform in width, apex acute, extending about same length as ventral lobes of phallicata; fused basal segments of appendages articulating near base of dorsal phallic spine. Phallobase with small rounded, laterally compressed, dorsomesal apodeme. Dorsal phallic spine, as viewed laterally, with dorsal margin curved and arched from base, sinuously and nearly rectilinearly upturned in apical 1/3, apex of spine rounded; base of spine narrow, curved and stalk-like, abruptly and strongly widened on ventral margin in basal ½, forming rounded ventral projection, narrowing apically from projection; spine, as viewed dorsally, nearly uniformly narrow in width throughout length. Phallicata with sclerotized basodorsal projection, articulating with angular ventral projection of dorsal phallic spine, and with lightly sclerotized dorsal area extending into endophallic membrane; phallicata ventrally with moderately elongate, lightly sclerotized, apically rounded, lobes, extending about same length as paramere appendages. Endophallic membrane inflated, but without distinct lateral lobes, ventromesally with lightly sclerotized projection; phallotremal spines absent.

Material examined — ECUADOR: Napo: 5 mi S Antisana, 13500 ft., 28.iv.1958, RW Hodges, male Holotype (U.S. N. type 66020, pharate adult, alcohol) ( NMNH); Reserva Ecologica Antisana , streams draining Crespo Glacier, 9.6 mi SE Secas, 0.53472° S, 78.225560° W, 18.i.2012, B Kondratieff– 1 male, 1 female (alcohol) ( NMNH).

Distribution — Ecuador.

— iridescens subgroup

Included species: Mortoniella iridescens Flint.

This species was originally placed in the bilineata subgroup by Sykora (1999) and was also speculatively placed in that subgroup by Blahnik and Holzenthal (2011), mostly based on the presence of 2 wing bars. However, as noted by Flint in its original description, the wing bars are unusual in that they more or less disappear when the light source is directly overhead, and only appear when the light strikes the wing at an angle. The color of the wing bars is a brilliant iridescent turquoise. Species in the bilineata subgroup with white wing bars may also have a slight turquoise iridescence at some light angles, but direct examination of the genitalia of M. iridescens makes its placement in the bilineata subgroup problematic, since it lacks some of the defining characters of that subgroup and has some unusual features of its own, notably the shape of tergum X, which is short and peculiarly truncate apically, as viewed laterally, and also has a distinct mesal notch. Other features of the genitalia, such as the rounded posterior margin of segment IX, simple inferior appendages, with absence of a mesal process, and the very acute ventral projection on the dorsal phallic spine suggest a relationship with the foersteri subgroup, which Sykora also included in the bilineata subgroup. We are presently placing M. iridescens in its own species group to draw attention to its unusual combination of characters.

Figures

Figure 24. Mortoniella (Mortoniella) hodgesi 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.

Figures 108-109. Mortoniella (M.), bilineata group species, female genitalia. 108—Mortoniella catherinae, n. sp. A—lateral; B—dorsal; C—ventral. 109—Mortoniella hodgesi Flint. A—lateral; B—dorsal; C—ventral.