Mortoniella crescentis, 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 : 14

Mortoniella crescentis , new species

Fig. 5

Mortoniella crescentis is diagnostically distinguished from any other species of Mortoniella by the structure of the male dorsal phallic spine, which has its apex laterally compressed, but widened and crescentic in structure, as viewed laterally. The extent of development varies in the material available and is especially strongly developed in the specimens from Teresopolis ( Fig. 5D ). Despite, its unique appearance, M. crescentis is somewhat similar in structure to both M. hystricosa , n. sp., and M. parauna , n. sp., both of which also have similar dorsolateral processes of the phallicata, relatively short paramere appendages, a tergum X with lateral lobes relatively narrowly separated, and a strongly upturned phallic spine. Like M. hystricosa , M. crescentis has a distinct, asymmetrical mesal process on the fused inferior appendages, lacking in M. parauna .

Adult. Length of forewing: male 3.8-4.8 mm, female 4.3-5.0 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III present, hind wing with fork II only. Spur formula 0:4:4. Overall color very dark brown. Legs same color, apices of tarsi whitish, tibial spurs somewhat darker than legs, but not strongly contrasting in color. Wing bar at anastamosis distinctly marked with white, contrasting setae, bar narrow, but more or less continuous.

Male genitalia. Ventral process of segment VI laterally compressed, ventrally projecting, subtriangular, wide basally, acute apically ( Fig. 5E ). 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, V-shaped mesal excision and projecting lateral lobes; lateral lobes with apices subacute, as viewed dorsally, bluntly rounded, as viewed laterally. Inferior appendages with prominent and somewhat asymmetrically developed mesal projection; laterally, on each side, with setose, tapering, dorsally-directed lobes. Mesal pockets of fused inferior appendages with apical processes short, dorsally curved. Paramere appendages of moderate length, as viewed laterally, straight, narrow, uniform in width, apices acute; in dorsal view, paramere appendages slightly curved. Dorsal phallic spine, as viewed laterally, of distinctive shape, relatively stout, apical 1/3rd sharply upturned, apex laterally compressed and crescentic in shape. Phallicata with short, rounded, depressed dorsolateral processes, emerging from upturned, sclerotized, dorsal margin of phallicata. Endophallic membrane relatively simple in structure, with sclerotized ventromesal spine; ventral spine short, curved, apex acute; phallotremal spines absent.

Holotype male: BRAZIL: Rio de Janeiro: Rio Campo Belo, trail to Veu da Noiva , 22°25'42"S, 044°37'10"W, 1310 m, 24.xi.2001, Holzenthal, Blahnik, Neto & Paprocki ( UMSP000081785 ) (pinned) ( MZUSP).

Paratypes: BRAZIL: Rio de Janeiro: same locality and date as holotype — 2 females (pinned) ( UMSP); Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, Rio Campo Belo , 22°27'02"S, 044°36'49"W, 1300 m, 23.xi.2001, Holzenthal, Blahnik, Neto, & Paprocki — 5 males, 1 female (pinned), 1 male (alcohol) ( UMSP, MZUSP) ; same locality, 7.iii.2002, Holzenthal, Blahnik, Paprocki & Prather — 5 males, 1 female (pinned) ( UMSP, NMNH); Teresopolis , 18 km S , Km 17, 1180 m, 18-19.iv.1977, C & O Flint — 7 males, 1 female (pinned) ( NMNH) .

Etymology. This species is named M. crescentis for the crescentic apical development of the dorsal phallic spine of the male.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Mortoniella crescentis, new species, male genitalia: A—lateral; B—segment IX and tergum X, dorsal; C—phallic ensemble, ventral; D—apex of dorsal phallic spine (variant from Teresopolis), lateral; E—ventral process of segment VI, lateral.