Mortoniella hystricosa Blahnik & Holzenthal 2011, new species

Fig. 8

Mortoniella hystricosa is diagnostically distinguished from any other species of Mortoniella by the structure of its dorsal phallic spine, which has its apex both distinctly spinose and strongly upturned, and also by the structure of tergum X, which is deeply and narrowly incised mesally and has the apices of the lateral lobes truncate in lateral view. Despite, its unique appearance, M. hystricosa is somewhat similar in structure to both M. crescentis, n. sp., and M. parauna, n. sp., both of which have similar dorsolateral processes of the phallicata, relatively short paramere appendages, a tergum X with lateral lobes narrowly separated, and a strongly upturned dorsal phallic spine. Like M. crescentis, but unlike M. parauna, M. hystricosa has a distinct, asymmetrical mesal process on the inferior appendages.

Adult. Length of forewing: male 4.0– 4.4 mm, female 4.6 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 leg, but not strongly contrasting in color. Wing bar at anastamosis distinctly marked with whitish, setae, band narrow, but more or less continuous.

Male genitalia. Ventral process of segment VI laterally compressed, ventrally projecting, subtriangular, wide basally, acute apically. Segment IX nearly evenly rounded anterolaterally, length greatest midlaterally, posterolateral margin forming rounded to slightly angular projection in dorsal 1/2, 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, deep, V-shaped mesal excision and projecting lateral lobes; lateral lobes with apices acute and slightly mesally curved in dorsal view, wide and broadly truncate in lateral view. Inferior appendages with prominent and somewhat asymmetrically developed ventromesal 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 moderately elongate, narrow, uniform in width, upcurved apically, apices acute. Dorsal phallic spine, as viewed laterally, relatively stout, broadened in middle, strongly upturned in apical 1/2, apex narrowed and acute, with numerous minute spines; in dorsal view gradually broadened at midlength, narrowed apically. Phallicata with short, rounded, sclerotized dorsolateral processes. Endophallic membrane simple, with bulging membranous lateral lobes and ventromesal spine; ventral spine very short, curved, apex acute; phallotremal spines absent.

Holotype male: BRAZIL: Santa Catarina: Parque Ecológica Spitzkopf, confl. Rio Ouro & Rio Caeté, 27°00'21"S, 049°06'42"W, 140 m, 25.xi.2003, Holzenthal, Paprocki & Calor (UMSP000085400) (pinned) (MZUSP).

Paratypes: BRAZIL: Santa Catarina: Urubici, Cachoeira Avencal, 28°02'50"S, 049°37'00"W, 1260 m, 6.iii.1998, Holzenthal, Froehlich & Paprocki — 5 males, 1 female (pinned) (UMSP).

Etymology. This species is named M. hystricosa from the Latin word hystrix, a porcupine, and referring to the spiny apex of the dorsal phallic spine of the male in this species.