Revision of the northern South American species of Mortoniella Ulmer 1906 (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae: Protoptilinae) * Blahnik, Roger J. Holzenthal, Ralph W. Insecta Mundi 2017 2017-12-29 2017 602 1 251 Blahnik & Holzenthal, 2017 Blahnik & Holzenthal 2017 [192,691,771,795] Magnoliopsida Apocynaceae Mortoniella Plantae Gentianales 71 70 Tracheophyta species variabilis sp. nov. Mortoniella   Fig. 55    Mortoniella variabilisis very similar to  M. gracilis, n. sp.and  M. limona(Flint). All of these species have elongate basoventral projections from the phallicata, a distinguishing feature of this complex. The shape of these projections is variable in each of these species, but in  M. variabilisthe projections tend to be narrower and longer than in  M. gracilis. The most diagnostic feature distinguishing the species in this complex is the shape of the apex of the dorsal phallic spine. Unfortunately, this is somewhat variable, even within the species, and this is especially so for  M variabilis. In general, the ventral projection at the apex of the dorsal phallic spine is less produced in  M. variabilisthan in  M. limona, but more so than in  M. gracilis. The ventral projection often (or perhaps usually) has a distinct, upturned, spine-like projection, not present in  M. limona. The development of this spine is quite variable in the material examined, as is the length of the paramere appendages (see Fig. 55Dfor an extreme variant from Colombia). We are interpreting this as variation within a species, but the issue may be worthy of reinvestigation when more material is available. There was no evident difference in the female genitalia of specimens from Colombiaand Venezuela.  Mortoniella variabilisis probably more likely to be confused with  M. limonathan  M. gracilis, because the ventral projection of the dorsal phallic spine is distinctly produced in both species, but the character state in  M. variabilisnever reaches the extreme condition found in  M. limona. Also, the apex of the dorsal phallic spine, above the ventral expansion, tends to be narrower and more attenuate in  M. variabilisthan in  M. limona. In most material of  M. variabilis, only 1 pair of endophallic spines is evident, but in specimens with the armature fully expanded, a second, very lightly sclerotized pair may also be evident; the second pair may be a consistent feature, not easily observed unless the armature is completely everted. In the other two species, 2 pairs of sclerotized spines are generally evident, even when the armature is not expanded.  Adult—Length of forewing: male 2.7-3.4 mm; female 3.0-3.9. Forewing with forks I, II, and IIIpresent, hind wing with forks IIand III. Spur formula 0:4:4. Overall color medium brown, apices of tarsal segments and basal segments of antennae pale brown. Tibial spurs darker than legs, contrasting in color. Wing bar at anastamosis indistinct, marked with light brown setae, most evident at arculus.  Male genitalia—Ventral process of segment VIlaterally compressed, ventrally projecting, large, subtriangular, length about equal to width at base, process not retracted anterobasally. Segment IX nearly evenly rounded anterolaterally, length greatest midlaterally, posterolateral margin weakly rounded, narrowing ventrally; segment deeply mesally excised dorsally and ventrally, forming lateral lobes, separated dorsomesally by less than ½ width of segment. Tergum X relatively short, lateral margins subparallel, apicomesal margin with V-shaped or U-shaped emargination between apicolateral lobes, extending about 1/3 length of tergum; apicolateral lobes tapered, acute apically, short and narrow as viewed laterally; apicomesal lobes visible in lateral view, rounded apically; ventrolateral lobes distinct, projecting. Inferior appendages somewhat variable shape, with short tapering dorsolateral lobes and apicoventral projections very short or absent. Mesal pockets of inferior appendage with apical processes moderately large, posterodorsally curved. Paramere appendage short or moderate in length (shorter than dorsal phallic spine), narrow, nearly uniformly in width, apex acute. Dorsal phallic, as viewed laterally, compressed apically, with prominent rounded apicoventral expansion and (usually) an acute, dorsally-oriented projection from ventral margin; apex of dorsal phallic spine narrowing and attenuate, often slightly posteriorly curved; spine, in dorsal view, nearly uniform in width, apex acute. Phallicata with dorsal margin sclerotized, extending into endophallic membrane, with apical depression to accommodate apicoventral projection of dorsal phallic spine, basoventrally with pair of very prominent curved, apically rounded, sclerotized, projections. Endophallic membrane short, with one pair of prominent sclerotized spines, and second pair of smaller, lightly sclerotized spines (possibly sometimes absent); ventromesal spine absent.    Holotypemale(pinned)—  VENEZUELA: Zulia: Parque Nacional Perijá, Río Negro in Toromo, 10.051° N, 72.712° W, el  360 m,  15.i.1994, Holzenthal, Cressa, Rincón ( UMSP000001386) ( UMSP).     Paratypes— COLOMBIA: Magdalena: Municipio Ciénaga, Río Cordoba, 25 kmNS “Estacion Exp. San Lorenzo,” Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, 11.03944° N, 74.03833° W, el  930 m,  12.xii.1997, FMuñoz-Q et al.– 5 males, 14 females(pinned) ( UMSP);  Municipio de Santa Marta, Río Minca en Minca, 11.14306° N, 74.11611° W, el  570 m,  9.xii.1997, F. Muñoz-Q et al.– 1 male, 1 female(pinned) ( UMSP);   Meta: Quebrada Blanca,  3 km WRestrepo,  11.ii.1983, OS Flint, Jr– 1 male(alcohol) ( NMNH);   VENEZUELA: Barinas: Parque Nacional Sierra Nevada, Quebrada San Juan in Santa Rosa, 8.46450° N, 70.84867° W, el  1000 m,  21.iii.1997, Holzenthal– 2 males, 5 females(alcohol) ( UMSP);   22 km NBarinitas,  24.ii.1976, CM& OS Flint, Jr– 1 male, 2 females(alcohol) ( NMNH);   Zulia:same data as Holotype– 2 males, 2 females(pinned), 3 males(alcohol) ( UMSP), 2 males, 2 females(alcohol) ( NMNH), 2 males, 2 females(alcohol) ( MIZA).  Etymology—This species is named  M. variabilisbecause of the variability in the structure of the apex of the dorsal phallic spine and length of the paramere appendages. — pocita subgroup Included species:  Mortoniella pocita(Flint). This subgroup was proposed by Blahnik and Holzenthal (2011)to contain only  M. pocita(Flint). The species was originally described from Argentinaand subsequently listed from Boliviaby Rueda Martín and Gibon (2008). It has a general similarity to several of the species listed below as leroda group species “unplaced to subgroup,” especially in having elongate inferior appendages and a modified apex of the dorsal phallic spine. However, none of these species have elongate dorsal processes on the phallicata, a character found in  M. pocitaand also used to define the punensis subgroup. Because of our uncertainty about whether this reflects a relationship between these 2 subgroups, and because of its unusual overall combination of characters, we are continuing to list  M. pocitain its own subgroup. 1994-01-15 UMSP Venezuela 360 10.051 Rio Negro in Toromo 77 -72.712 Parque Nacional Perija 72 71 UMSP000001386 1 Zulia holotype 1997-12-12 F, UMSP Colombia Municipio Cienaga 930 11.03944 Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta 1 -74.03833 Rio 72 71 19 14 5 Magdalena paratype 1997-12-09 F, UMSP Colombia 570 11.14306 Rio Minca en Minca 1 -74.11611 Municipio de Santa Marta 72 71 2 1 1 Magdalena paratype 1983-02-11 W, OS, NMNH Flint Colombia Jr Quebrada Blanca 72 71 1 1 Meta paratype 1997-03-21 UMSP Venezuela Parque Nacional Sierra Nevada 1000 8.4645 Holzenthal 1 -70.84867 Quebrada San Juan in Santa Rosa 72 71 7 5 2 Barinas paratype [312,1435,1027,1051] 1976-02-24 N, CM, OS, NMNH Flint & Jr Venezuela 22 km N Barinitas 72 71 3 2 1 Barinas paratype 1994-01-15 UMSP, NMNH, MIZA Venezuela 360 10.051 Rio Negro in Toromo 77 -72.712 Parque Nacional Perija 72 71 15 6 9 Zulia paratype