Mortoniella paraunota, Blahnik & Holzenthal, 2011

Blahnik, Roger J. & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2011, Revision of the austral South American species of Mortoniella (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae: Protoptilinae) 2851, Zootaxa 2851 (1), pp. 1-75 : 31

Mortoniella paraunota , new species

Fig. 14

As discussed under Mortoniella paraguaiensis , n. sp., M. paraunota , n. sp., is closely related to a group of species, including M. paraguaiensis ; M. unota ; and M. uruguaiensis , n. sp. All of these species are characterized by a dorsal phallic spine that, in lateral view, has a sharply upturned, blade-like apex, accompanied by a slight ventral deflection at the point of inflection. In dorsal view the spine is very narrow apically and distinctly widened at the point of inflection. Mortoniella paraunota differs from these other species in having longer paramere appendages, inferior appendages with dorsal projections whose apices are not at all recurved, and the presence of dorsolateral lobe-like extensions on the endophallic membrane, which serve as guides for the apices of the paramere appendages. The apical inflection of the dorsal phallic spine is most similar to M. uruguaiensis (less strongly recurved than either M. paraguaiensis or M. unota ). However, it differs significantly from M. paraunota in the structure of the dorsolateral processes of the phallicata.

Adult. Length of forewing: male 2.5–2.9 mm; female 2.5–3.3 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III present, hind wing with fork II only. Spur formula 0:4:4. Overall color light brown. Legs yellowish, tibial spurs darker than legs, contrasting in color. Wing bar at anastamosis more or less distinctly marked with whitish setae, bar discontinuous.

Male genitalia. Ventral process of segment VI laterally compressed, ventrally projecting, subtriangular, wide basally, acute apically. Segment IX nearly evenly rounded anterolaterally, length greatest midlaterally, posterolateral margin convexly rounded, narrowing ventrally; segment deeply excised dorsomesally and ventromesally, forming lateral lobes, lobes separated dorsomesally by much less than 1/2 width of segment. Tergum X with narrow, U-shaped mesal excision, extending less than 1/2 length of segment, and projecting lateral lobes; lateral lobes acute apically, as viewed both dorsally and laterally. Inferior appendages without ventromesal projection; laterally, on each side, with setose, tapering, dorsally-directed lobes, apices of lobes unmodified. Mesal pockets of fused inferior appendages with apical processes short, dorsally curved. Paramere appendages elongate, narrow, uniform in width, apices acute. Dorsal phallic spine, as viewed laterally, with apical 1/3rd gradually upturned, apex posteriorly directed, spine with distinct sinuous deflection on ventral margin at point of upturn; in dorsal view, very distinctly widened at inflection, apical part abruptly narrowed, making overall appearance of apex blade-like. Phallicata with sclerotized, subtruncate dorsal process, subtending dorsal phallic spine, somewhat projecting laterally; laterally with weakly projecting, broadly rounded, depressed projections on either side, subtending paramere appendages. Endophallic membrane (or dorsal extension of phallicata), with lightly sclerotized, depressed projections, projecting over apices of paramere appendages, and short, stout, curved, ventromesal spine; phallotremal spines absent.

Holotype male: BRAZIL: Santa Catarina: Seara (Nova Teutônia), 27°11'S, 052°23'W, 300-500 m, 10.x.1964, F Plaumann ( UMSP000118566 ) (pinned) ( MZUSP).

Paratypes: ARGENTINA: Entre Rios: Ao. Piray Mini W , Dos Hermanas , 33°10'00"S, 058°53'59"W, 23.xi.1973, O S Flint — 4 males, 17 females (alcohol) ( NMNH, UMSP) ; BRAZIL: Santa Catarina: same locality as holotype, ix.1964, F Plaumann — 1 male (pinned) ( NMNH); same locality, 12.x.1964, F Plaumann — 1 male (pinned) ( NMNH) .

Etymology. This species is named M. paraunota , from the Greek word para, meaning near or by, and referring to the similarity of this species to M. unota .

Figures

FIGURE 14. Mortoniella paraunota, new species, male genitalia: A—lateral; B—segment IX and tergum X, dorsal; C—apex of endophallic membrane, dorsal; D—dorsal phallic spine, dorsal.