Kernegaster pinguis (Germar, 1839) 2025, new combination
Creators: name: Schmitz, Luís Ricardo
name: Barcellos, Aline
name: Eger, Joseph
name: Bianchi, Filipe Michels
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Scutelleridae
Kernegaster
Kernegaster pinguis

description: Kernegaster pinguis (Germar, 1839), new combination
(Fig. 1D; Fig. 4A–C; Fig. 7A; Fig. 8A; Fig. 9A; Fig. 10A; Fig. 12A, J; Fig. 13A–C)
Pachycoris pinguis Germar, 1839:91–92 (description); Herrich-- Schaeffer, 1839:7, Fig. 462 (description and illustration); Amyot and Serville, 1843:39; Dallas, 1851:31 (distribution); Dohrn, 1859:3; Walker, 1867:48; Casale, 1981:43;
Tetyra pinguis Stål, 1870:5 (new combination); Lethierry, 1881:8; Distant, 1899:311; Lethierry and Severin 1893:31; Schouteden, 1904:47 (synonymy); Kirkaldy, 1909:284; Burks, 1972:370; Eger and Lattin, 1997:414; Barcellos et al., 2014:413,415; Eger et al., 2015a:766; Panizzi and Grazia, 2015:14; Czaja, 2016:621,630,631 (spermatheca); Coscar´on, 2017:329; Czaja, 2019:48 –49,51,54; Paim et al., 2023:2,4,6, 11, Fig. 5: m,o, 9: g,h (stridulation).
Type material: The holotype of P. pinguis is a female from Brazil and can be found in the Benedict Dybowski Zoological Museum of the National University of Lviv (compared by picture).
Material examined (125): BRAZIL: Bahia, Jequi´e, (1M), 15.XI.64, Elias T. & C. (DZUP 217365); Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro (Corcovado), (1M), XI.1961, Seabra & Alvarenga (DZUP 217295); ibid., (1M), I.1959, Seabra & Alvarenga (DZUP 217294); S˜ao Paulo, Ypiranga, (1M), I.1943, Lane F. (MCNZ 2233); Santos, (1M), 05.II.1945, Figueiredo (MCNZ 2261); Parana´, Castro, (1M), 13.IX.66, Fonseca O. (DZUP 217368); Ponta Grossa, (2F), II.42, Pedreira (DZUP 217360, DZUP 217362); Curitiba, (2F, 1M), 17.XII.1966, no collector (DZUP 217299, DZUP 217359, DZUP 217371); ibid., (2F), 17.II.1989, Habeck H.D. (JEEC); ibid., collected in Schinus terebinthifolia, (2F), 3.II.1988, Crestana L. (JEEC); ibid. (Mato Grego), (1M), XII.1937, Claretiano (MCNZ 2230); Quatro Barras, (1F), 7.III.1970, Becker & Laroca (DZUP 217361); Morretes (Pico Marumbi), (1F), 14.II.1967, Laroca & Giacomel (DZUP 217358); Foz do Iguaçu, (4M), 7.XII.1966, no collector (DZUP 217369, DZUP 217370, DZUP 217372, DZUP 217373); Tijucas do Sul (Represa Vossoroca), (1M), 4.I.1973, Mome (DZUP 217366); Rio Negro, (1M), I.1929, no collector (MCNZ 2231); Santa Catarina, Corup´a, (1F), I.1958, Maller A. (DZUP 217374); ibid., (1F), XI.1940, Maller A. (IBSP 7163); Ibirama (Hansa), (1F), II.1990, Maller A. (MCNZ 2313); Itapiranga, (1M), no date, no collector (MCNZ 2221); Rio Grande do Sul, Caxias do Sul, (1M), 2.III.1931, no collector (MCNZ 179322); ibid., (Vila Oliva), (1F), 06.II.1950, no collector (MCNZ 2226); ibid., (1F), 11. I.1968, no collector (MCNZ 15082); ibid., (3F, 2M), 11.I.1960, no collector (MCNZ 15074, MCNZ 15075, MCNZ 15078, MCNZ 15079, MCNZ 15090); Santo Augusto, (1M), XII.1970, Roppa O. (CMNH 1097); (S˜ao Francisco de Paula (Fazenda Trˆes Cachoeiras), (1M), 24.XI.1998, Moura L. (MCNZ 178549); ibid., (1F), 5.XI.1996, Moura L. (MCNZ 178552); Canela, (1F), 2.III.1976, Lise A. (MCNZ 45165); Cap˜ao da Canoa (Curumim), (2F), 17.IV.1976, Becker C.J. (MCNZ 12586, MCNZ 12587); Imbe´ (Santa Terezinha), (1M), 16.II.1973, Galileo M.H. (MCNZ 8603); Montenegro, (1M), 29.IX.1977, Bischoff H. (MCNZ 12706); S˜ao Leopoldo, (1F), VIII.1940, no collector (MCNZ 2239); ibid., (1F), 12. XII.1983, Becker C.J. (MCNZ 52014); ibid., (1M), 10.VI.1983, Becker C. J. (MCNZ 52012); Eldorado do Sul (Fazenda Kramm), (1F), 19.I.1999, Moura L. (MCNZ 53184); ibid., (1F), 1.VII.1999, Bonaldo A. (MCNZ 53178); ibid., (1M), 19.I.1999, Moura L. (MCNZ 53183); (Ilha das Flores), (2F), 1.VII.1999, Franceschini A. (MCNZ 53177, MCNZ 53185); Guaíba, (2M), 11–13.I.1980, Galileo M.H. (MCNZ 13723, MCNZ 13724); ibid., (1F), 14–16.XII.1979, Gastal H.A. (MCNZ 13948); ibid., (2M), 16–17.I.1980, Galileo M.H. (MCNZ 13946, MCNZ 13947); ibid., (2F, 1M), 19.I.1981, Gastal H.A. (MCNZ 17000, MCNZ 45005, MCNZ 45013); ibid., (1M), 2–6.IV.1980, Gastal H.A. (MCNZ 13607); ibid., (1M), 23–24.I.1980, Galileo M.H. (MCNZ 14019); ibid., (2F), 3–4. III.1980, Galileo M.H. (MCNZ 13725, MCNZ 14020); ibid., (1F), 31.III–1. IV.1980, Souza M.E.L. (MCNZ 14017); ibid., (1M), 3–4.IV.1980, Souza M.E.L. (MCNZ 14018); ibid., (1F, 2M), 7–9.III.1980, Galileo M.H. (MCNZ 13945, MCNZ 13950, MCNZ 13951); ibid., (1F), 25–27.IV.1980, Galileo M.H. (MCNZ 13726); ibid., (1M), 5–6.III.1980, Galileo M.H. (MCNZ 15991); ibid. (Arroio Petim), (3F, 4M), 19.I.1981, Gastal H.A. (MCNZ 16998, MCNZ 45003, MCNZ 45021, MCNZ 45023, MCNZ 45026, MCNZ 45028, MCNZ 45031); ibid. (Florida), (1F), XI.1954, Buckup L. (MCNZ 2220); Triunfo (Fazenda Pontal), (1F, 1M), 22.VI.1999, Franceschini A. (MCNZ 53167, MCNZ 53168); ibid. (2F), 28.I.1999, Moura L. (MCNZ 53181, MCNZ 53182); Porto Alegre (Ilha das Flores), (2F), 1.VII.1999, Franceschini A. (MCNZ 53177, MCNZ 53185); ibid. (Ipanema), (1M), I.1957, Palcya M. (MCNZ 2224); (1F), II.1957, no collector (MCNZ 2223); ibid. (Ponta Grossa), (1M), 3.I.1955, no collector (MCNZ 2222); ibid. (Bel´em Novo), (2M), I.1959, Buck P. (MCNZ 15061, MCNZ 15063); Viam˜ao, (1F), 3–4.III.1980, Gastal H.A. (MCNZ 13944); ibid., (1F), 3–4. III.1980, Souza M.E.L. (MCNZ 13949); ibid., (2F, 1M), 10.V.1983, Becker C.J. (MCNZ 47974, MCNZ 47976, MCNZ 47978); ibid., (2F), 11–14.IV.1983, Lise A. (MCNZ 47917, MCNZ 47921); ibid., (1F), 11. IV.1983, Becker C.J. (MCNZ 47925); ibid., (2F), 12.IV.1983, Becker C.J. (MCNZ 47906, MCNZ 47908); ibid., (2M), IX.1952, Buckup L. & E. (MCNZ 2228, MCNZ 2229); ibid. (Fazenda B. Caldas), (1M), 4–6.X.1979, Becker C.J. (MCNZ 13309); ibid. (Itapu˜a), (1M), 19.I.1987, Tavares M.I. (MCNZ 15094); Palmares do Sul (Fazenda das Almas), (1F), 11.XI.2003, Equipe Probio (MCNZ 175212); ibid. (Gateados Oeste), (1F), 07.IV.2003, Equipe Probio (MCNZ 53686); ibid. (1F), 14.XI.2003, Equipe Probio (MCNZ 175314); ibid. (1F), 7.IX.2003, Equipe Probio (MCNZ 53687); Tapes, (5F, 1M), II.1963, Buck P. (MCNZ 1944; MCNZ 1985; MCNZ 1986; MCNZ 1987; MCNZ 2001; MCNZ 2002); ibid., (1F), 1.IV.1983, Hennig J.E. (MCNZ 57886); S˜ao Francisco de Assis (Sanga da Areia), (3F, 3M), 10.III.2010, Barcellos A. & Ott R. (MCNZ 181641, MCNZ 181642, MCNZ 181643, MCNZ 181644, MCNZ 181646, MCNZ 181647); ibid., (1F), 10.III.2010, Ott R. & Heyrich I. (MCNZ 181561); ibid., (2F), 24.XI.2009, Barcellos A. & Heidrich I. (MCNZ 181490, MCNZ 181491); ibid., (1M), 27.V.2009, Barcellos A. & Ott R. (MCNZ 181702); ibid., (1M), 25.IV.2009, Barcellos A. & Heidrich I. (MCNZ 180910); Sant’ ana do Livramento, (1M), II.1963, Thom´e (MCNZ 1943).
Color pattern. Light yellow to almost burnt yellow with dark spots usually forming blotches (Fig. 4A–C). Head. Clypeus with posterior and median 1 + 1 small spots, these sometimes absent (Fig. 7A). Antennomeres I bicolored (proximal half yellow and distally dark). Rostrum segments III and IV mostly dark. Thorax. Pronotum with at least 1 + 1 distinct inner maculate stripes. Scutellum with transverse intermittent areas with more and less dark macules. Femora with proximal dark small annulus and a larger one distally; tibiae with medial and distal dark blotch; first and last tarsomeres dark, middle tarsomere yellow.
Abdomen. Connexiva yellow, with small anterior and larger posterior dark macule on each segment. Ventral pattern. Lateral rows with one solid spot in each sternite; median rows with more than one solid blotch; inner row with a solid blotch in each sternite, culminating in a larger solid blotch on sternite VII. Stridulatory area usually without blotches. Area adjacent to spiracles dark (Fig. 4C).
Head. Wider than long. Clypeus slightly surpassing mandibular plates (Fig. 7A). Maxillar plates subequal to mandibular plates in length. Rostrum reaching the middle of sternite III. Thorax. Pronotum with anterolateral margins sub-rectilinear, humeral angles obtuse and produced, about half the width of the eye (Fig. 4A–C). Peritreme spout-like, developed, more than twice as long as wide (Fig. 8A). Abdomen. Posterior margin of sternite VII sinuous medially (Fig. 9A).
Genital plates. Valvifers VIII subtriangular, anterior margins convex, sutural margins truncated posteriorly, lateral 2/3 of posterior margin sub-rectilinear, middle 1/3 strongly convex. Laterotergites IX subtriangular, anterior margin markedly convex (Fig. 9A). Gynatrium. Ring sclerites with the posterior half of the inner margin with a thick "leaf-like" sclerotized process. Posteromedian gynatrial pouch with a median subtriangular sclerite and 2 + 2 lateral sclerites, the intermediate pair oval and about the same size as the median, lateral pair small, round and produced (Fig. 10A).
Genital capsule. Posterior margin sinuous (Fig. 12A). Ventral rim concave in posterior view. Parameres. Crown not surpassing the width of the stem, apex obtuse (Fig. 12J). Phallus. Aedeagus sensu stricto uniformly tapering towards apex, convex dorsally in lateral view with apex strongly curved dorsally. Conjunctival processes II bifurcated, with a robust apical process. Conjunctival processes III with apex sclerotized, apex acute and strongly curved (Fig. 13A–C).
Measures. Body length (10.7–13.8) and width (7.7–10.0). Head length (2.1–2.7) and width (3.0–3.7).
Distribution. Southern South America, from Bahia state (Brazil) to Argentina (Santiago del Estero) (Coscar´on, 2017). Mainly present in the Atlantic Forest and the chaco biome.
Biological notes: Attracted to mercury vapor light, collected on S. terebinthifolia Raddi (Anacardiaceae), and also recorded in Oryza sativa L. (Poaceae) (Ferreira et al., 2001). Host of Hexacladia smithii Ashmead (Burks, 1972) (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae).
Comments. Usually yellow with a distinct dorsal pattern of intermittent transverse bands of black spots. Differs from its sympatric congeners, K. poecilus and K. diminutus, by the produced humeral angles, and from K. rosafloresae by its dorsal color pattern.
description: Published as part of 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, pp. 97-123 in Zoologischer Anzeiger 316 on pages 112-113, DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2025.03.005