Mortoniella (Mortoniella) guyanensis, Blahnik & Holzenthal, 2017

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 : 67

Mortoniella (Mortoniella) guyanensis , new species

Fig. 51

This species is very different from others in this group and was placed here largely because of the pair of apicomesal processes on tergum X and the enlarged pair of endophallic spines. It is the only species of Mortoniella currently recorded from Guyana. Additional collecting may prove that it would be better treated as the prototype of an additional species subgroup. It differs from other species of the limona subgroup in that the dorsal phallic spine is depressed (dorsoventrally flattened), rather than compressed. The ventral process of segment VI is more or less typical of species in the florica/ leroda subgroup (and unlike species in the limona subgroup) in that it is truncate apically and slightly retracted anterobasally. Among species in the leroda group, it is also unusual in having a lightly sclerotized dorsomesal apodeme on the phallobase and a recurved dorsal lobe on the inferior appendages. The only other species of the leroda group with a strongly recurved dorsal lobe on the inferior appendages are members of the akantha and bolivica subgroups. The spined apex of the dorsal phallic spine, in combination with the characters discussed above, is especially distinctive and diagnostic for this species.

Adult —Length of forewing: male 3.0- 3.1 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III present, hind wing with forks II and III. Spur formula 0:4:4. Overall color (in alcohol) yellowish brown (specimen badly faded). Wing bar not evident.

Male genitalia —Ventral process of segment VI laterally compressed, short, ventrally projecting, truncately rounded apically, length slightly greater than width at base, process slightly 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 short, lateral margins subparallel, apicomesal margin V-shaped, apicolateral lobes short, truncate; apicomesal lobes short, narrow, with several apical setae, visible in dorsal and lateral views; ventrolateral lobes distinct, projecting, rounded. Inferior appendages with narrow, recurved dorsal lobes, ventral lobe prominent, setose, acutely projecting mesally. Mesal pockets of inferior appendage with apical processes short, posteriorly curved. Paramere appendage moderate in length (shorter than dorsal phallic spine), posteroventrally projecting, uniform in width, apex acute. Phallobase with lightly sclerotized, compressed, dorsomesal apodeme. Dorsal phallic spine, as viewed laterally, curved basally, relatively narrow, only slightly widened ventrally, distinctly dorsally curved and nearly rectilinearly inflected in about apical ¼, apex depressed (flattened), with numerous small spines; spine, in dorsal view, nearly uniform in width throughout length, apex acute. Phallicata with dorsal margin sclerotized, ventrally with pair of very small rounded sclerotized basal projections. Endophallic membrane short, with pair of very prominent enlarged spines (possibly modified phallotremal spines); ventromesal spine absent.

Holotype male (alcohol) — GUYANA: Potaro River , Kaeteur Falls, 5.17500° N, 59.48167° W, 1350 ft., 21-23.viii.1997, OS Flint, Jr ( UMSP000124864 ) ( NMNH).

Paratypes — GUYANA: same data as Holotype – 1 male (alcohol) ( NMNH).

Etymology. This species is named M. guyanensis for Guyana, the country in which it was collected.

Figures

Figure 51. Mortoniella (Mortoniella) guyanensis, new species, male genitalia. A—lateral; B—segment IX and tergum X, dorsal; C—phallic ensemble, ventral.