Mortoniella Ulmer, 1906

Blahnik, Roger J. & Holzenthal, Ralph W., 2008, Revision of the Mexican and Central American species of Mortoniella (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae: Protoptilinae), Zootaxa 1711 (1), pp. 1-72 : 9-11

Genus Mortoniella Ulmer

Mortoniella Ulmer, 1906: 95 [Type species: Mortoniella bilineata , by monotypy].

Mexitrichia Mosely, 1937: 158 [Type species: Mexitrichia leroda , original designation] new synonym.

Paraprotoptila Jacquemart, 1963: 342 [Type species: Paraprotoptila armata , by monotypy]; Flint et al. 1999a, as synonym of Mexitrichia .

Among genera of Protoptilinae , Mortoniella males are diagnostically defined by the presence of a single dor- sal phallic spine, emergent from the phallobase, and by its accompanying fulcrum-like articulation, provided by the fused, sclerotized bases of the parameres ( Fig. 34A). The genus Mortoniella is most similar to Protoptila . The two taxa collectively are characterized by the possession of small digitiform processes, forming articulated appendages that fit into sclerotized pockets on the mesal margin of the inferior appendages ( Fig 1A; Holzenthal & Blahnik 2006, fig. 2C). No other taxa of Protoptilinae possess either these digitiform appendages or their corresponding pockets. Mortoniella can be additionally differentiated from Protoptila by the possession of a well developed tergum X, usually with the posteromesal margin distinctly invaginated (entire, or nearly so, in some members of the bilineata species group) and by having sternum VIII relatively unmodified [as opposed to the highly modified and posteriorly projecting sternum VIII that characterizes Protoptila ( Holzenthal & Blahnik 2006, fig. 2A, B)]. Females are characterized by having a pair of projecting ventrolateral lobes ( Figs. 2B, 18B) from the ventral margin of segment IX (absent or less distinctly developed in most Protoptila ). The ventromesal margin of segment VIII is also usually noticeably invaginated. In most species there is an additional pair of mesal accessory lobes ( Fig. 2B), extending from the distal margin of the ventrolateral lobes of sternum IX, which parallel an apicomesal structure, possibly glandular in function. Females, especially those of the leroda species group, often have the “glandular” structure conspicuously swollen and sclerotized or darkened apically or preapically, usually with an evident tubular structure leading to it. Females in the bilineata species group and the ormina species group are recognized by having the dorsal margin of segment VIII deeply invaginated from the posterior margin, often with a remaining mesal projection or tab ( Fig. 18A).

Usually, specimens of Mortoniella are readily sorted from Protoptila by the more broadly rounded apices of their wings, except possibly for the minute species in the ormina species group, which differ from Protoptila in that the distal part of the costal margin of hind wings are not distinctly concave ( Fig. 19B).

Adult. Forewing length variable, ca. 1.8–7.2 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III present; hind wing with fork II only, or forks II and III, or forks II, III and V ( bilineata species group). Forewing chord with all crossveins nearly linear, often forming a conspicuous wing bar with contrasting, pale, white or whitish-brown setae; sometimes with additional whitish markings in proximal or distal part of the wing or at the apices of the major veins. Apices of forewings usually more or less rounded, less distinctly so in ormina species group. Color variable, usually some shade of brown, varying to nearly black or golden in some species. Spur formula 0:4:4. Segment VI with ventral process in both males and females, either subtriangular and ventrally oriented, or more elongate and posteriorly oriented, process of female either similar in shape and size to male, or somewhat reduced.

Male genitalia: Segment VIII usually short and not greatly modified, sometimes nearly synscleritous, posterior margin with elongate setae. Segment IX either evenly rounded anterolaterally ( Fig. 1A), or more elongate in ventral half ( Fig. 17A); segment deeply mesally excised dorsally and ventrally; posterior margin usually with staggered row of prominent setae. Tergum X projecting and setose, either cleft mesally, or nearly entire, often with apicolateral margins projecting and lobe-like. Inferior appendages fused mesally to one another and to ventral margin of phallic apparatus, either invaginated apicomesally ( Fig. 30C) or with projecting apicomesal projection ( Fig. 12C), often highly reduced in bilineata species group; mesally with pair of sclerotized pockets, each with short, hooked apical projection, or apical projection sometimes prominent and lance-like. Phallobase typically short, sometimes with short, laterally compressed dorsomesal apodeme; apicoventrally with short, projecting rod-like appendages ( Fig 1A); dorsally with prominent, projecting dorsal phallic spine ( Figs. 1A, 5A, 12A, 34A). Dorsal phallic spine often with base somewhat enlarged, sinuous in lateral view, or with apex strongly upturned; apex usually acute, sometimes widened or otherwise modified. Endotheca short, either membranous or nearly continuously sclerotized from phallobase to phallicata; usually with pair of prominent parameres. Parameres with bases typically forming pair of cupped and more or less mesally fused processes ( Figs. 6A, C; 34A), often articulating with dorsal phallic spine; apically with pair of appendages ( Fig. 1A), usually elongate and rod-like, but highly variable in length and development, membra- nous at base, sometimes with membranous base displaced laterally. Phallicata usually tubular, variable in length and development, often with dorsolateral processes and/or dorsoventrally compressed lateral projections ( Fig. 34A). Endophallic membrane variable in length and development, sometimes with balloon-like projections ( Fig. 33C), or sclerotized regions, often with prominent ventral or apicoventral spine ( Fig. 34A), phallotremal opening sometimes with accompanying pair of sclerotized phallotremal spines ( Fig. 12A).

Female genitalia: Anterior margin of tergum VI, usually, with pair of small rounded glandular structures; anterior margin of tergum VII, sometimes, with second pair of similar glandular structures (glandular structures absent from both segments in some species). Segment VIII short, either with dorsal margin entire and unmodified ( Fig. 2A), or with dorsal margin distinctly invaginated posteromesally ( Fig. 18A), with or without accompanying mesal projection; ventral margin distinctly invaginated posteromesally. Segment IX usually short, sometimes nearly vertical dorsally, often distinctly projecting in bilineata species group; sternum with pair of projecting ventrolateral processes ( Figs. 2B, 18B), usually curved and extended apically to form additional pair of ventromesal processes ( Fig. 2B), paralleling a projecting ventromesal structure, possibly glandular, sclerotized apically ( Fig. 2B) or preapically ( Fig. 18B), often with evident tubular structure leading to it. Tergum X, short, setose, with pair of short, projecting rod-like cerci. Vaginal apparatus variable, with conspicuous cupped, keyhole sclerite.