Mortoniella albolineata Ulmer, 1907

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 : 10-12

Mortoniella albolineata Ulmer, 1907

Figs. 3 , 38

Mortoniella albolineata Ulmer, 1907: 44 ; Blahnik & Holzenthal 2008: 69 [ M. leroda species group].

Antoptila ? albolineata (Ulmer) ; Mosely 1939: 218.

Mexitrichia albolineata (Ulmer) ; Flint 1966: 465 [lectotype designation and illustration; Mexitrichia teutona Mosely placed in synonymy]; Flint 1972: 225 [distribution; Mexitrichia teutona removed from synonymy]; Rueda & Gibon 2008: 223 [distribution].

Mortoniella albolineata belongs to a group of closely related species, including M. dolonis , n. sp.; M. latispina , n. sp.; and M. teutona . All of these species have the character combination of inferior appendages with a distinct, asymmetrical ventromesal process, dorsal phallic spine with a depressed, apically rounded, somewhat spatulate apex, and endophallic membrane with membranous lobes. Despite the name given to the type for this group, none of these species has a particularly distinct wing bar, although a small white spot is present at the arculus on the forewing. Perhaps the name given by Ulmer refers to the more or less hyaline crossveins present at the anastamosis, evident in denuded or alcohol preserved material, a general feature within the genus. In contrast to M. latispina and M. teutona , males of both M. albolineata and M. dolonis have hind wings densely covered with modified, somewhat flattened and scale-like setae; however, this character could escape casual attention. In M. albolineata , the setae of the hind wing are more distinctly scale-like than in M. dolonis . In other characters, M. albolineata is also similar to M. dolonis ; in both species the ventral endophallic spine is elongate and prominent, and both species also have paramere appendages that are uniformly narrow throughout their length, as well as distinctly separated, paired lateral lobes on the endophallic membrane (in addition to a dorsal lobe paralleling the dorsal phallic spine). The lateral lobes on the endophallic membrane in the other 2 species are either unitary or more or less contiguous. In both M. teutona and M. latispina the endophallic spine is relatively short and curved and the paramere appendages are somewhat widened preapically. Mortoniella albolineata differs from M. dolonis in a number of details, the most diagnostic of which is that the paramere appendages are much more elongate. Other differences include an endophallic spine that is strongly curved, rather than nearly straight, and dorsolateral processes on the phallicata that are narrower, almost peg-like. The notched or bifid apex of the apicomesal process of the inferior appendages of M. albolineata is a character featured in the illustration of the lectotype by Flint (1966) and was also observed in the specimens examined. It may be diagnostic for this species.

Adult. Length of forewing: male 3.4–4.4 mm, female 3.7–4.6 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III present, hind wing with fork II only. Spur formula 0:4:4. Overall color, of male, grayish-brown, of female, brown. Legs brown, apices of tarsi whitish, tibial spurs somewhat darker than legs, but not strongly contrasting in color. Wing bar at anastamosis scarcely evident, marked with whitish setae at arculus on anal margin. Setae of forewing dense, decumbent, forewing of female with erect setae along major veins, that of male with slightly widened scale-like setae. Hind wing of male covered with modified scale-like setae.

Male genitalia. Ventral process of segment VI laterally compressed, ventrally projecting, short, wide basally, rounded apically. Segment IX nearly evenly rounded anterolaterally, length greatest midlaterally, posterolateral margin forming rounded to slightly angular projection in dorsal 1/2, 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 broad V-shaped mesal excision; lateral lobes weakly developed, apices subacute. Inferior appendages with prominent and somewhat asymmetrically developed ventromesal projection, apex of projection notched, as viewed laterally; laterally, on each side, with setose, tapering, dorsally-directed lobes. 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, more or less uniform in width, gradually upturned in apical 1/2, apex narrowed and acute; in dorsal view, somewhat widened in middle, apex rounded, spatulate (depressed). Phallicata with short peg-like dorsolateral processes. Endophallic membrane with membranous dorsal lobe, paralleling dorsal phallic spine, 2 membranous lateral lobes on either side, and sclerotized ventromesal spine; ventral spine stout, elongate, curved, apex acute; phallotremal spines absent.

Material examined. BRAZIL: Santa Catarina: Riberão Gaspar, Belchior Alto , Gaspar , 26°48'22"S, 049°02'28"W, 120 m, 27.xi.2003, Holzenthal, Paprocki & Calor — 1 male, 7 females (pinned) ( UMSP) ; Mun. Ilhota, Morro do Bau , 3.xii.1975 — 4 males, 10 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; São Paulo: Parque Estadual Intervales, Rio do Carmo , 24°18'59"S, 048°25'15"W, 560 m, 29.ix.2002, Blahnik, Prather, Melo & Calor — 1 male (pinned) ( UMSP) .

Distribution. Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Mortoniella albolineata Ulmer, male genitalia: A—lateral; B—segment IX and tergum X, dorsal; C—phallic ensemble, ventral; D—dorsal phallic spine and paramere appendages, dorsal.

FIGURES 38–40. Wings of exemplar species: 38, Mortoniella albolineata Ulmer: A—forewing; B—hind wing. 39, Mortoniella argentinica Flint: A—forewing; B—hind wing. 40, Mortoniella froehlichi, new species: A—forewing; B—hind wing.