Kernegaster poecilus ( Berg, 1879 ), 2025

Schmitz, Luís Ricardo, Barcellos, Aline, Eger, Joseph & Bianchi, Filipe Michels, 2025, Kernegaster gen. nov. (Heteroptera, Scutelleridae, Pachycorinae) and six new species based on genital and polychromatic synapomorphies, Zoologischer Anzeiger 316, pp. 97-123 : 113-115

Kernegaster poecilus ( Berg, 1879) , new combination

( Fig. 1E ; Fig. 4D–F ; Fig. 7B ; Fig. 8B ; Fig. 9B ; Fig. 10B ; Fig. 12B, K ; Fig. 13D and E )

Tetyra poecila Berg, 1879:22–24 (description of adult and immature, host plants); Bertkau, 1879:376; Lethierry and Severin, 1893:31; Montandon, 1895:2; Schouteden, 1904:47, plate 3; Kirkaldy, 1909:284–285; Pennington, 1920:127; Bosq, 1937:127 (distribution); Coscar´on and Froeschner, 2000:31 (types); Mendonça et al., 2009:123; Barcellos et al., 2014:410,413,415; Carpintero et al., 2014:76 (faunistic); Coscar´ on et al., 2015:94 (types); Eger et al., 2015a:766; Coscar´on, 2017:329; Brugnera et al., 2023:614 ( Fig. 4s ).

Type material: Tetyra poecila type material is deposited in the collection of Divisi´on Entomología, Museo de La Plata: Eight syntypes: 1–5. Argentina: Buenos Aires (1339); 6–8. Uruguai: Banda Oriental (1339) ( Coscar´on et al., 2015: Fig. 73: M, L). Here we designate as lectotype the first specimen of the serie, a male labelled as follows (each number corresponds to a different label): (1) Buenos Aires, (2) Typus, (3) T. poecila Berg. , (4) 1339/1 [green circle].

Material examined (209): BRAZIL, Bahia: (1F), 6.XII.1908, no collector ( CMNH 3702 ) ; Minas Gerais: (5 mi S Prata), (1F), 25.I.1980, Thomas D.B. ( DBTC) ; Mato Grosso do Sul: Dourados ( Fazenda Leiteiro ), (2F), 9.II.1997, no collector ( UFRG) ; S˜ao Paulo: Guatapar´a , (2F, 3M), I.1945, Carrera M. ( MCNZ 2253 , IBSP 7167 , IBSP 7168 , JEEC) ; S˜ao Bento do Sapucaí , (1F), I.1953, Buckup L. ( MCNZ 2240 ) ; S˜ao Jose´dos Campos , (2M), XI.1935, D. B. ( MCNZ 2244 , MCNZ 2245 ) ; S˜ao Paulo, (1M), XI.1941, no collector ( MCNZ 2264 ) ; ibid., (1F), V.1926, no collector ( IBSP 7173 ) ; Sorocaba , (1F), X.1935, no collector ( IBSP 6810 ) ; Parana ´: Curitiba, On Schinus terebinthifolius (2F), 3.II.1988, no collector ; Campo do Tenente , (1M), 10.X.1973, Mielke ( DZUP 217364 , JEEC) ; Santa Catarina: Corup´a , (1F), XI.1954, Keller A. ( DZUP 217376 ) ; Jaguaruna, (2F), 18.X.2011, Perin C. ; Ararangu´a , (1M), X.2008 – V.2009, Daminelli M. ( UFRG) ; Rio Grande do Sul: Derrubadas ( Parque Estadual do Turvo ), 22.XII.1982, Bonatto S. ( UFRG) ; Caxias do Sul ( Vila Oliva ), (1M), 21.VII.1947, no collector ( MCNZ 2265 ) ; Canela, (1F), 2.III.1976, Lise A. ( MCNZ 45165 ) ; S˜ao Francisco de Paula (FLONA) , (1F), 13. I.2007, Schwertner C.F. ( UFRG) ; Pareci Novo , (2M), XI.1946, no collector ( MCNZ 2235 , MCNZ 2241 ) ; Torres, (1M), 28.II.1991, Moura L. ( MCNZ 50372 ) ; ibid. (1F), 22.II.1991, Moura L. ( MCNZ 50373 ) ; ibid., (1M), I.1978, Mansa M.E.D. ( MCNZ 15100 ) ; S˜ao Francisco de Assis ( Sanga da Areia ), (1M), 10.III.2010, Barcellos A. & Ott R. ( MCNZ 181640 ) ; ibid., (1F), 27.V.2009, Barcellos A. & Ott R. ( MCNZ 181706 ) ; ibid., (2F), 20.VIII.2009, Barcellos A. & Ott R. ( MCNZ 181737 , MCNZ 181738 ) ; Canoas , (1F), VII.1962, no collector ( MCNZ 1993 ) ; Imbe ´( Santa Terezinha ) (1M), 24.II.1973, Galileo M.H. ( MCNZ 8493 ) ; Tramandaí, (1M), IX.1955, Pintal D. ( MCNZ 2260 ) ; Triunfo, (1M), 12. V.1981, Becker C.J. ( MCNZ 16031 ) ; ibid., (1F), 23.I.1979, Gastal H.A. ( MCNZ 13004 ) ; ibid., (1M), 22.VI.1999, Bonaldo A. ( MCNZ 53169 ) ; ibid. ( Parque COPESUL ), (1M), 14.II.2008, Moraes R. ( MCNZ 180430 ) ; Gravataí , (1F), 19.XII.1966, no collector ( CIBM) ; Eldorado do Sul ( Fazenda Kramm ), (1M), 1.VIII.1999, Bonaldo A. & Silva A. ( MCNZ 53175 ) ; ibid., (1M), 19.I.1999, Moura L. ( MCNZ) ; ibid., ( Fazenda Sao ˜ Jos´e ), (1M), 5–7.I.2000, Bonaldo A. & Silva A. ( MCNZ 53190 ) ; Porto Alegre , (1M), 20.V.1953, no collector ( MCNZ 15081 ) ; ibid., (1M), no date, Buck P. ( MCNZ 2263 ) ; ibid., (1F), 25.II.1964, Buck P. ( MCNZ 15070 ) ; ibid., (1F), 23.V.1951, no collector ( MCNZ 15080 ) ; ibid., (1F), II.1955, Buckup L. ( MCNZ 2259 ) ; ibid., (1M), I.1959, Buck P. ( MCNZ 15064 ) ; ibid., (1M), 15.IX.1956, Buck P. ( CIBM 6246 ) ; ibid., (1F), no date, Corsevel E. ( MCNZ 2940 ) ; ibid. ( Ilha das Flores ), (1F), 15.IV.1999, Moura L. ( MCNZ 53171 ) ; ibid., (1F), XI.1956, Palcya M. ( MCNZ 2256 ) ; ibid., ( Lami ), (1F), 25.I.1979, Gastal H.A. ( MCNZ 13005 ) ; ibid., ( Morro do Sabi´a ), (1F), 14.I.1964, no collector ( MCNZ 15065 ) ; ibid., ( Morro Santana ), (1M), 13.VIII.1982, Bonatto S. ( UFRG 970 ) ; Guaíba, (1F), 28–29.I.1980, Gastal H.A. ( MCNZ 14080 ) ; ibid. ( Arroio Petim ), (5F), 19. I.1981, Gastal H.A. ( MCNZ 16996 , MCNZ 45002 , MCNZ 45016 , MCNZ 45022 , MCNZ 45032 ) ; ibid. ( Florida ), (1M), 15.III.1955, Buckup L. ( MCNZ 2257 ) ; Cidreira , (1F), 1936, no collector ( CIBM) ; Viam˜ao , (1M), IX.1952, Buckup L. & E. ( MCNZ 2237 ) ; ibid., (1F), IV.1956, Buckup L. ( MCNZ 2266 ) ; ibid., (2M, 3F), V.1957, Buckup L. & E. ( MCNZ 2254 , MCNZ 2255 , MCNZ 2258 , MCNZ 2262 , MCNZ 2267 ) ; ibid., (1M), 9. XI.1976, Becker C.J. ( MCNZ 15095 ) ; ibid., (1M), 13.II.1983, Becker C.J. ( MCNZ 47962 ) ; ibid., (1F, 1M), 11–14.IV.1983, Lise A. ( MCNZ 47916 , MCNZ 47920 ) ; ibid., (2M), 12.IV.1983, Becker C.J. ( MCNZ 47905 , MCNZ 47907 ) ; ibid., (1F), 13.IV.1983, Becker C.J. ( MCNZ 47964 ) ; ibid., (1F, 1M), 10.V.1983, Becker C.J. ( MCNZ 47975 , MCNZ 47977 ) ; ibid. ( Morro do Coco ), (1M), 20.X.2018, Schmitz L.R. ( MCNZ) ; Palmares do Sul ( Ilha Grande ), (1F, 2M), 10.IV.2003, Equipe Probio ( MCNZ 53717 , MCNZ 53718 , MCNZ 53877 ) ; Barra do Ribeiro ( Fazenda Boa Vista ), (1F, 1M), 13.V.2003, Equipe Probio ( MCNZ 53969 , MCNZ 53998 ) ; ibid., (1F), 14.V.2003, Equipe Probio ( MCNZ 54261 ) ; ibid., (2F, 2M), 16. V.2003, Equipe Probio ( MCNZ 54079 , MCNZ 54086 , MCNZ 176143 , MCNZ 176235 ) ; Tapes, (3F, 4M), XI.1963, Buck P. ( MCNZ 1945 ; MCNZ 1946 ; MCNZ 1988 ; MCNZ 1991 ; MCNZ 1992 ; MCNZ 1996 ; MCNZ 1998 ) ; ibid., (1M), 1.IV.1983, Hennig J.E. ( MCNZ 47886 ) ; ibid. ( Fazenda Guar´a ), (1F), 15.V.2003, Equipe Probio ( MCNZ 54182 ) ; Dom Feliciano ( Fazenda Chapada ), (1F), 18–19.III.2000, Bonaldo A. ( MCNZ 54588 ) ; Barra do Quaraí ( Espinilho Leste ), (1F), 11.I.2004, Bunde & Schwertner ( UFRG 824 ) ; ibid., Espinilho , (1F, 1M), 12.I.2004, Bunde & Schwertner, coletado em Scutia sp. , ( UFRG 825 , UFRG 826 ) ; ibid. ( Fazenda Espinilho ), (1F, 2M), 10.I.2004, Bunde & Schwertner ( UFRG 817 , UFRG 818 , UFRG 819 ) ; ibid., (2M), 11.I.2004, Bunde & Schwertner ( UFRG 821 , UFRG 822 ) ; ibid., (1M), 17.IX.2003, Schwertner & Iserhard ( UFRG 816 ) ; ibid. ( marco geogr´afico , coletado em limoeiro), (1M), 11.I.2004, Bunde & Schwertner ( UFRG 820 ) ; ibid., (1F), 11.I.2004, Bunde & Schwertner ( UFRG 823 ) ; ibid., (1F), 17.IX.2003, Schwertner & Iserhard ( UFRG 815 ) ; ibid., (2F, 4M), 24.III.2003, Bunde & Schwertner (coletado em mata ciliar) ( UFRG 809 , UFRG 810 , UFRG 811 , UFRG 812 , UFRG 813 , UFRG 814 ) ; Sant’ ana do Livramento, (1M), 5.I.1971, Carvalho S. ( MCNZ 13133 ) ; Bage´ ( Rio Negro ), BR-153, (1M), 29.III.2006, Schwertner & Cohen ( UFRG) ; Canguçu ( Rincao ˜da Ronda ), (1F), 3.IV.2004, no collector (campo, coletado em borda de mata) ( UFRG 455 ) ; Pelotas, (1F), 1. V.1962, Biezanko C.M. ( MCNZ 1989 ) ; Santa Vit´oria do Palmar ( Estaç˜ao Ecol´ogica Taim ) (1F, 2M), 27.XI.1985, Marques M.A.L. ( MCNZ 49680 , MCNZ 49681 , MCNZ 49682 ) ; PARAGUAY, Concepcion ´: Horqueta (44 km east Paraguay River), (1M) 8.XII.1934, Schulze A. ( USNM) ; San Pedro: Laguna Blanca, 665 ft, (1F), 19–23.II.2019, Eger J.E. & Bezark L. ( JEEC) ; Canindeyú: Reserva Natural del Bosque Mbaracayú, fish carrion-baited butterfly trap, 598 ft, (3M) 2–5.XII.2017, Eger J.E. ( JEEC) ; ibid., (6M), 19–22.XI.2016, Eger J.E. ( JEEC #271/2016) ; Cordillera: (1F), 3.III.2005, Rives J. ; Caacupe´ ( Camp. Evangelica Neatestamenta ), fish carrion-baited butterfly trap, 988 ft, (1M) 15 18. XI. 2016, Eger J.E. ( JEEC #271/2016) ; Naranjo, (1M), 3.III.2005, Aguilar C. ; ibid., (1M), 25.X.2006, Aguilar C. ( JEEC) ; Central: Capiat´a , (1M), 21.II.1994, Arriagada G. ( JEEC) ; Paraguarí: Cerro Hû, vic. Posada del Cerro , UV and MV lights, 531 ft, (1F), 5–6.II.2019, Eger J.E. & Bezark L.G. ; Castymi, (1M), 5.II.2004, Rivas J. ( JEEC) ; Guaira ´: Ybyturuzú, (1M), I.1994, Arriagada G. ( JEEC) ; Misiones: San Ignacio (vic. Hotel Rural ), fish carrion-baited butterfly trap, 595 ft, (2M), 5–8.XII.2019, Eger, Tyson & Leavengood ( JEEC) ; Itapúa: Pro Cosara Nature Reserve, fish carrion-baited butterfly trap, 933 ft, (3M), 9.10. XII.2019, Eger, Tyson & Leavengood ( JEEC) ; ARGENTINA, Salta: 3–8 km SW Campo Quijano , in Aloysia gratissima , (2M), 17–18.III.1995, Gill B.D. ( DBTC) ; Corrientes: Alvear , (3F, 1M) II.1991, no collector ( DARC) ; ibid., (2F, 1M) III.1991, no collector ( DARC) ; Entre Ríos: Pueblo Liebig , (1M), II–III.1997, Caire S.R. ( JEEC) ; ibid., (9F, 9M), XII.1996, Caire S.R. ( JEEC) ; ibid., (3F), VII.1988, G. Arriagada ( JEEC) ; ibid., (4F, 7M), II.1991, no collector ; ibid., (5F, 1M) III.1990, no collector ; ibid., (2F), II.1990, no collector ; ibid., (2F), X.1988, no collector ( DARC) ; URUGUAY, Canelones: (plain on east side of Arroyo Pando ), (1F, 2M), 19.I.2014, Wibmer G.J. ( JEEC) .

Color pattern. Highly polychromatic, brownish to ferrugineus, usually with orangish intermittent stripes dorsally ( Fig. 4D–F ). Head. Dorsal surface with posterior longitudinal bands of black punctures between the eyes. Clypeus with, or without posterior and median 1 + 1 spots ( Fig. 7B ). Antennomeres I bicolored (first half yellow and distal half dark). Rostrum with segment III mostly yellow with a median dark blotch, segment IV mainly dark. Thorax. Pronotum with at least 1 + 1 distinct inner maculate rows with anterior and posterior portions of these rows with indistinct patterns of macules. Scutellum with darker sparse punctures distributed sparsely in longitudinal stripes. Femora with proximal small dark blotch and larger distal blotch; tibiae with medial and distal dark blotches; first and last tarsomeres dark, remaining tarsomere yellow to ferrugineus. Abdomen. Connexiva with dark punctations evenly distributed. Ventral pattern. Lateral rows usually absent, sometimes few dark spots on each sternite. Median rows with more than one solid blotch on each sternite, inner row with a few aggregations of dark spots on each sternite, usually forming two thin sub rows. Stridulatory areas usually without blotches. Area adjacent to spiracles concolorous ( Fig. 4F ).

Head. Wider than long. Clypeus slightly surpassing mandibular plates ( Fig. 7B ). Maxillar plates subequal to mandibular plates in length. Rostrum reaching the middle of sternite III. Thorax. Pronotum with anterolateral margins sub-rectilinear, humeral angles round and slightly produced, by less than half the width of the eye ( Fig. 4D–F ). Peritreme spout-like reduced, about as wide as long ( Fig. 8B ). Abdomen. Posterior margin of sternite VII sinuous medially ( Fig. 9B ).

Genital plates. Valvifers VIII subtriangular, anterior margin convex, sutural margin posteriorly truncated, posterior margin strongly sinuous. Laterotergites IX subtriangular, anterior margin convex (partially hidden by valvifers VIII), lateral angles strongly produced and constricted by valvifer VIII ( Fig. 9B ). Gynatrium. Ring sclerites with almost the entire inner margin with thick "leaf-like" sclerotized process. Posteromedian gynatrial pouch with a median trapezoidal sclerite and 1 + 1 lateral oval sclerites about the same size as the median one ( Fig. 10B ).

Genital capsule. Posterior margin sub-rectilinear ( Fig. 12B ). Ventral rim is also sub-rectilinear in posterior view. Parameres. Crown not surpassing the width of the stem, apex obtuse ( Fig. 12K ). Phallus. Aedeagus sensu stricto distal half abruptly tapered, slightly sinuous in lateral view with apex curved dorsally. Conjunctival processes II with a thin process with a distinct base. Conjunctival processes III distally sclerotized, apex acute and curved ( Fig. 13D and E ).

Measures. Body length (10.1–17.4) and width (7.0–11.4). Head length (2.0–3.0) and width (3.0–4.2).

Distribution: Brazil (Bahia to Rio Grande do Sul), Argentina (south till Neuqu´en) ( Coscar´on, 2017), Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Biological notes: Collected manually, with net and entomological umbrella. Attracted to ultraviolet light, mercury vapor light and fish carrion-baited butterfly traps ( Eger et al., 2015b). Found on A. gratissima (Gillies and Hook) ( Verbenaceae ), S. terebinthifolia Raddi ( Anacardiaceae ), Scutia sp. Brongn ( Rhamnaceae ), Citrus sp. L. ( Rutaceae ) and in a nest of Anumbius annumbi (Vieillot) ( Aves: Furnariidae ), was also found in diapause (via label). Recorded by Berg (1879) on Vachellia caven (Mol.) , V. farnesiana (L.) ( Mimosaceae ), Cestrum euanthes Schltdl. , Solanum bonariense L. ( Solanaceae ) and Gleditsia triacanthos L . ( Fabaceae ).

Comments: The only species with nymphal stages described ( Berg, 1879). The species is highly polychromatic, and as described by Berg: “It’ s so variable in color, in dots and black spots, that no two specimens are completely identical”. Differs from its congeners by the abdominal inner row of blotches that are separated by the stridulatory area forming two distinct rows, peritreme smaller and aedeagus sensu stricto long and slender.

Figures

Fig. 1. Ingroup species of Tetyra and Kernegaster. A. Tetyra antillarum; B. T. robusta; C. T. bipunctata; D. Kernegaster pinguis; E. Kernegaster poecilus; F. Kernegaster farctus; G. Kernegaster diminutus sp. nov; H. Kernegaster fulvescens sp. nov; I. Kernegaster igneus sp. nov; J. Kernegaster multimaculatus sp. nov; K. Kernegaster rosafloresae sp. nov; L. Kernegaster chapadanus sp. nov. Scale bar = 5 mm.

Fig. 4. Kernegaster species in dorsal, lateral and ventral view, respectively. A–C. Kernegaster pinguis; D–F. Kernegaster poecilus; G–I. Kernegaster farctus. Scale bar = 5 mm.

Fig. 7. Kernegaster species head in dorsal view. A. Kernegaster pinguis; B. Kernegaster poecilus; C. Kernegaster farctus; D. Kernegaster diminutus sp. nov.; E. Kernegaster fulvescens sp. nov.; F. Kernegaster igneus sp. nov.; G. Kernegaster multimaculatus sp. nov.; H. Kernegaster rosafloresae sp. nov. Scale bar = 2 mm.

Fig. 8. External scent efferent system of Kernegaster gen. nov. respectively. A. Kernegaster pinguis; B. Kernegaster poecilus; C. Kernegaster farctus; D. Kernegaster diminutus sp. nov; E. Kernegaster fulvescens sp. nov; F. Kernegaster igneus sp. nov; G. Kernegaster multimaculatus sp. nov; H. Kernegaster rosafloresae sp. nov; I. K chapadanus sp. nov. (pe: peritreme; os: ostiole). Scale bar = 1 mm.

Fig. 9. Genital plates of Kernegaster. A. Kernegaster pinguis; B. Kernegaster poecilus; C. Kernegaster farctus; D. Kernegaster diminutus sp. nov; E. Kernegaster fulvescens sp. nov; F. Kernegaster igneus sp. nov; G. Kernegaster multimaculatus sp. nov; H. Kernegaster rosafloresae sp. nov; I. Kernegaster chapadanus sp. nov. (lt8: laterotergite VIII; lt9: laterotergite IX; vf8: valvifer VIII; vf9: valvifer IX). Scale bar = 1 mm.

Fig. 10. Kernegaster gynatrium. A. Kernegaster pinguis; B. Kernegaster poecilus; C. Kernegaster farctus; D. Kernegaster diminutus sp. nov; E. Kernegaster fulvescens sp. nov. (ar: apical receptacle; dil: spermatheca dilation; pmgp: posteromedian gynatrial pouch; rs: ring sclerites). Scale bar = 1 mm.

Fig. 12. Kernegaster genital capsule and parameres respectively: A, J. Kernegaster pinguis; B, K. Kernegaster poecilus; C, L. Kernegaster farctus; D, M. Kernegaster diminutus sp. nov; E, N. Kernegaster fulvescens sp. nov; F, O. Kernegaster igneus sp. nov; G, P. Kernegaster multimaculatus sp. nov; H–I, Q. Kernegaster rosafloresae sp. nov. (cr: paramere crown; st: paramere stem; tr: transverse ridge) Scale bar = 1 mm.

Fig. 13. Phallus of Kernegaster: A–C. Kernegaster pinguis inflated phallus in pygophore in ventral, lateral and dorsal view respectively; D–E. Phallus on ventral and lateral view, respectively: F–G. Kernegaster poecilus; H–I. Kernegaster farctus; 98–99. Kernegaster diminutus sp. nov; J–K. Kernegaster fulvescens sp. nov. (aed: aedeagus sensu stricto; cpII: conjunctival process II; cpIII: conjunctival process III; pa: paramere; sa: striated area) Scale bar = 1 mm.