Mortoniella (Mortoniella) atenuata ( Flint, 1963 )

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 : 46-47

Mortoniella (Mortoniella) atenuata ( Flint, 1963)

Fig. 28 , 110

Mexitrichia atenuata Flint 1963: 473 .

Mortoniella atenuata (Flint) : Blahnik and Holzenthal 2008: 69 [member of leroda group].

Mortoniella atenuata is perhaps most similar to M. brevis , n. sp. due to the similarity in the shape of the paramere appendages of both species: each appendage is widely forked, with the ventral branch longer and both branches distinctly sclerotized. It is distinguished from M. brevis by the elongate ventral projections of the inferior appendages. Although the latter character is shared by the other species in the group, the ventral projections are differently formed in each species. They are distinctly shorter and less sclerotized in M. leei Flint and strongly rounded in M. dinotes , n. sp. Additionally, the shape of the paramere appendages is different in each of these species.

Adult —Length of forewing: male 2.9-3.6 mm; female 3.5-4.0 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III present, hind wing with fork II only. Spur formula 0:4:4. Overall color medium brown. Tibial spurs somewhat darker than legs, not strongly contrasting in color. Wing bar absent in male, forewing sometimes marked with whitish setae at arculus in female. Male with both surfaces of fore- and hind wings densely covered with short prostrate scale-like setae (sometimes lost in alcohol); female with unmodified setation.

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. Tergum VIII relatively wide (nearly as wide as previous segment), subtending ventral margin of segment IX, anterior margin of tergum with evident apodeme, posterior margin densely setose; membranous connection to tergum IX elongate, ballooned when expanded, surface slightly textured. Segment IX nearly evenly rounded anterolaterally, length greatest midlaterally, posterolateral margin very slightly projecting, narrowing ventrally; segment deeply mesally excised dorsally and ventrally, forming lateral lobes, separated dorsomesally by much less than ½ width of segment. Tergum X short and strongly sclerotized, with deep U-shaped mesal excision, extending more than ½ length of segment; mesally with short sclerotized, apically rounded, ventral projection, apparently articulating with dorsal phallic spine. Inferior appendages with tapering setose dorsolateral lobes and elongate, narrow, tapering, ventral lobes. Mesal pockets of inferior appendage with apical processes short, dorsally curved. Paramere appendages relatively short, widely forked near base, forming 2 narrow, apically acute projections, ventral projection longer than dorsal one; fused basal segments of paramere articulating with dorsal phallic spine before sinuous middle flexure. Phallobase with rounded, laterally compressed, dorsomesal apodeme. Dorsal phallic spine, as viewed laterally, more or less uniform in width, broadly S-shaped over its length, apex acutely narrowed and upturned; in dorsal view, nearly uniform in width throughout length. Phallicata very short, with short sclerotized dorsal projection and short rounded ventral lobe. Endophallic membrane short, with prominent pair of strongly sclerotized, spine-like sclerites on basodorsal margin (possibly phallotremal sclerites), and very small mesal spine distal to basal sclerites; ventrally with short curved, lightly sclerotized, ventromesal spine.

Material examined — BOLIVIA: La Paz: AMNI Madidi, Río Tuichi and tributary at entrance to Chalalan lodge, 14.41695° S, 67.90630° W, 300 m, 27.vii.2003, Robertson and Blahnik – 1 male (pinned) ( UMSP) ; Rayo Mayo river at Wabacuro trail, Chalalan Ecolodge , 14.44257° S, 67.91095° S, 351 m, 28.vii.2003, Robertson and Blahnik – 1 male, 1 female (pinned) ( NMNH) ; Santa Cruz: Saaveda Exp. Station , 1.iv.1960, R Cumming – 1 male, 2 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; PN and ANMI Amboró, Guardia Parque Mataracú, Río Yapacaní, 17.52072° S, 63.86795° W, 329 m, 26.xi.2004, Robertson, Garcia, Vidaurre – 8 males, 8 females (alcohol) ( UMSP) ; PERU: Yurac, 67 mi E Tingo Maria , EI Schlinger and ES Ross, 28.ix.1954 – 2 males, 1 female (alcohol) ( CAS) ; Avispas, -. x.1962, LE Peña G – 1 male (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Cuzco: Pilcopata, premontane moist forest, 600 m, 8-10.xii.1979, JB Heppner – 2 males, 3 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Madre de Dios: Manu, Pakitza Biological Station, Quebrada Paujil-Picoflor , 11.94417° S, 71.28300° W, 350 m, 2.vii.1993 Blahnik and Pescador – 1 male (pinned) ( NMNH) ; Manu, Erika (near Salvacion ), 12.88333° S, 71.23333° W, 550 m, 4-6.ix.1988, O Flint and N Adams – 6 males, 15 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Hostel Erica (near Salvacion), 12.88333° S, 71.23333° W, 3-5.ix.1989, RA Faitoute , et al.– 8 males, 6 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; same locality and date, N Adams et al.– 8 males, 8 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Amazonia Lodge, Río Alto Madre de Dios, 12.87033° S, 71.37600° W, 500 m, 30.vi.1993, R Blahnik and M Pescador – 5 males, 4 females (alcohol) ( NMNH) ; Pasco: Puerto Bermudez, Río Pichis , 10.2964° S, 74.9364° W, 15.vii.1920 – 3 males (alcohol) ( NMNH) .

Distribution — Bolivia, Peru.

Figures

Figure 28. Mortoniella (Mortoniella) atenuata (Flint), male genitalia. A—lateral; B—segment IX and tergum X, dorsal; C—phallic ensemble, ventral.

Figures 110-113. Mortoniella (M.), leroda group species, female genitalia. 110—Mortoniella atenuata (Flint). A—lateral; B—dorsal; C—ventral. 111—Mortoniella flexuosa, n. sp. A—lateral; B—caudal. 112—Mortoniella brevis, n. sp., caudal. 113—Mortoniella biramosa, n. sp., caudal.