Mortoniella (Mortoniella) denticulata Sykora, 1999

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 : 27-28

Mortoniella (Mortoniella) denticulata Sykora, 1999

Fig. 12

Mortoniella denticulata Sykora 1999: 382 [member of flinti subgroup]; Blahnik and Holzenthal 2008: 70 [member of the bilineata group]; Blahnik and Holzenthal 2011: 63 [probable member of enchrysa subgroup].

The overall color of this species is nearly uniformly light brown, rather than golden, as in other species of the group; females may have a discontinuous whitish wing bar at the usual anastamosis. This species is distinctive in so many respects that it is unlikely to be confused with any other species. Particularly diagnostic is the elongate, arched and separated, ventrolateral lobe of tergum X. Characters shared with other species, but uniquely combined in M. denticulata , include: numerous small spines on the apex of the dorsal phallic spine; minutely spined and projecting lobes on the endophallic membrane; and a narrow, arched dorsolateral projection on the inferior appendage. The latter character is somewhat similar to M. paraenchrysa Sykora , but not as dramatically curved.

Adult —Length of forewing: male 4.9-6.0 mm; female 5.8-6.0. Forewing with forks I, II, and III present, hind wing with forks II, III, and V. Spur formula 0:4:4. Overall color of male, including dorsal side of forewings, head, legs, and base of antennae, golden-brown, female slightly darker. Wing membrane of fore- and hind wings distinctly infuscated, more distinctly evident on ventral side of forewings and hind wings, due to short scant setae (of same color as dorsal side of wings). Palps, apices of antennae, and marginal setae of wings dark brown. Tibial spurs dark brown, contrasting with legs. Wings of male without wing bars, of female with indistinct or interrupted white wing bar at anastomosis.

Male genitalia —Ventral process of segment VI posteriorly projecting, moderate in length, narrow basally, length about 2 times width at base. Tergum VIII relatively narrow, subtending ventral margin of segment IX, dorsal margin somewhat widened, membranous connection to tergum IX moderately elongate. Segment IX with anterolateral margin rounded and produced in ventral half, posterolateral margin with distinctly angular projection in dorsal half, projection with minute microsetae in addition to usual lateral setae; segment deeply mesally excised dorsally and ventrally, forming lateral lobes, separated dorsomesally by more than ½ width of segment. Tergum X moderately elongate, base of segment not inflated, lateral margins constricted at base, subparallel laterally, apex of tergum with deep V-shaped mesal incision, apex sclerotized, but not forming evident “cap,” tergum ventrolaterally with elongate narrow, curved, apically acute, lateral lobes, each with several preapical setae, lobe widely separated from dorsal part of tergum by rounded notch; tergum ventromesally with paired, rounded and sclerotized, ventromesal lobes in basal half, each with short setae (not readily visible in lateral view). Inferior appendages with moderately elongate narrow, posteriorly recurved, dorsolateral lobes and short acute, paired, apicoventral lobes. Mesal pockets of inferior appendage with elongate, posteriorly directed, spine-like, apicoventral projections. Fused basal segments of parameres articulating near middle of stalklike basal part of dorsal phallic spine, paramere appendages absent. Phallobase with relatively small rounded, laterally compressed, dorsomesal apodeme. Dorsal phallic spine, as viewed laterally, with dorsal margin sinuously undulate, gradually upturned in about apical 1/3, base of spine narrow, stalk-like and sinuously curved, distinctly widened on ventral margin in basal ½, forming acute ventral projection, apical part of spine rather uniformly broad, apex rounded, spine with many small lateral spines in about apical 1/3; spine, as viewed dorsally, slightly widened in middle, apex rounded. Phallicata with sclerotized basodorsal projection, articulating with angular ventral projection of dorsal phallic spine; phallicata ventrally with indistinct, lightly sclerotized, lobes, extending about same length as recurved dorsal lobe of inferior appendages. Endophallic membrane with subdivided, membranous lateral lobes, basal part distinctly projecting, with minute spines; phallotremal spines absent.

Material examined — VENEZUELA: Merida: Río Albarregas, ca. 1 km NW Univ. de los Andes , 8.634° N, 71.158° W, el 1980 m, 24.iv.1995, Holzenthal, Gulic, Segnini– 15 males, 3 females (pinned) ( UMSP) ; Parque Nacional Sierra Nevada, Quebrada La Mucuy, 7 km E Tabay , 8.637° N, 71.034° W, 2200 m, 18.i.1994, Holzenthal, Cressa, Rincón– 1 male (pinned) ( UMSP) .

Distribution — Venezuela.

Figures

Figure 12. Mortoniella (Mortoniella) denticulata Sykora, male genitalia. A—lateral; B—segment IX and tergum X, dorsal; C—phallic ensemble, ventral.