Mortoniella mexicana Blahnik & Holzenthal 2008, new species

Mortoniella mexicana, new species

Fig. 14

Mortoniella mexicana is superficially most similar to, and most likely to be confused with M. leroda. It differs in a number of details, including the much longer apicolateral processes of tergum X, the nearly symmetrical apicomesal process of the inferior appendage, and the absence of endophallic and phallotremal spines.

Adult. Length of forewing: male 2.9–4.0 mm, female 3.0– 3.8 mm. Forewing with forks I, II, and III, hind wing with forks II and III. Overall color (in alcohol) light brown. Wing bar at anastamosis not evident. Ventral process of abdominal segment VI (male) short, ventrally oriented, rounded or subtruncate apically, slightly constricted basally at anterior margin.

Male genitalia. Segment IX nearly evenly rounded anterolaterally, length greatest midlaterally, posterolateral margin forming rounded projection in dorsal half, narrowing ventrally; segment deeply mesally excised dorsally and ventrally, dorsal excision narrow, much less than half width of segment. Tergum X with evenly rounded mesal excision and projecting lateral lobes, lateral lobes elongate, sclerotized, acute or subacute apically, distinctly mesally curved. Inferior appendage with symmetrically developed apicomesal projection, apicomesal projection narrow, relatively short, tapering and acuminate apically; basolaterally, with short, apically acute projection on each side; mesal pockets of inferior appendage with apical processes short, dorsally curved. Paramere appendages relatively elongate, narrow, somewhat flattened and widened distally, sinuously curved, apices acute. Dorsal phallic spine sinuous in lateral view, bulging basoventrally in contour with dorsal margin of phallicata, apical part distinctly, sinuously, dorsally curved; as viewed dorsally, with apex acute. Phallicata tubular, with slight depression dorsally, sclerotized region extended ventrally, ventrally with minute microsetae, dorsally without dorsolateral processes. Endophallic membrane short, simple, without spines.

Holotype male: MEXICO: Puebla: Patla, 16.iv.1975, J. Bueno-Soria (UMSP000118661) (alcohol) (NMNH).

Paratypes: MEXICO: Puebla: same locality and date as holotype — 5 males, 79 females (alcohol) (IBUNAM), 2 males, 5 females (alcohol) (NMNH); same locality, 13.vii.1975, J. Bueno-Soria — 1 male (alcohol) (IBUNAM); same locality, 19.i.1977, J. Bueno-Soria — 3 males (alcohol) (IBUNAM); same locality, 23.iii.1977, J. Bueno-Soria — 14 males, 2 females (alcohol) (IBUNAM); Río Pita, Huauchinango-Tlaxcalan Tongo, 23.i.1985, J. Bueno-Soria — 1 male (alcohol) (IBUNAM); Veracruz: Tlapacoyan, Río Tomata, 3.iv.1984, H. Velasco — 2 males (in microvial of glycerin, on pin) (IBUNAM).

Etymology. This species is named M. mexicana for its country of origin.