Kernegaster multimaculatus Schmitz, 2025

Kernegaster multimaculatus Schmitz sp. nov.

( Fig. 1 J; Fig. 6 D – F; Fig. 7 G; Fig. 8 G; Fig. 9 G; Fig. 11 B; Fig. 12 G, P; Fig. 14 C and D)

Tetyra pinguis Martorell, 1939:186 (matching distribution).

Type Material (113): Holotype. PANAMA, Chiriqui: Hartmann’ s Finca , (1M), 4–7.VII.1997, Morris & Wappes ( USNM) ;

Paratypes. MEXICO, Veracruz: Dos Amates , (1F), VIII.1977, Hubbell P. ( DBTC) ; Los Tuxtlas, (2F), 27.IX.1977, Perez H. ( UNAM) ; ibid., (1M), 14.IX.1985, Cervantes L. ( UNAM) ; ibid., (1M), 23.IX.1977, Perez H. ( UNAM) ; San Andres Tuxtla, 710 msnm, (5F, 3M), 23–24.VIII.2009, Nogueira G. ( UNAM) ; ibid., (1M), 22.VII.1972, Brailovsky H. ( UNAM) ; San Martin, (1M), 6.IX.1989, Taylor T. ( JEEC) ; Quintana Roo: Coba, (10M, 12F), VI–XI.2015, Santos C. ( JEEC) ; Chiapas: Ocosingo Chajul, Reserva Montes Azules , 10 al, (1M), 16.VII.1987, Arias F., Barba R., Cervantes L. ( UNAM) ; GUATEMALA, Izabal: Sierra del Merendon, Finca Firmeza, at light, 950 m (15F, 7M), 28.VII–3.IX.2007, Monzon J., Camposeco F. & Woodruff R.E. ( FSCA) ; ibid., (3M, 2F), 13–14.VII.2005, Woodruff R.E., J. Monzon ( FSCA) ; ibid., (1F, 3M), 17.X.2006, Turbow R. ( UGCA) ; ibid., (1M), 16.X.2007, Turbow R. ( UGCA) ; Green Bay Resort, Ramoncita , Sierra del Mico, 3–5m, (1M, 1F), 23–26.IX.2008, Heppner J ( FSCA) ; HONDURAS, Lempira: Gracias , (ex. Coll. Schouteden). (1M, 1M), no data and collector ( RISNB) ; COSTA RICA, Guanacaste: 3 km SE Naranjo , (1F), 1–15.VIII.1993, Parker F.D. ( UGCA) ; Puntarenas: Las Cruces Field Sta. (OTS), near San Vita , 1000m, (1M), 24–27.V.1988, Ratcliff B. & Jameson M. ( DBTC) ; Cartago: Turrialba, (1M), Summer 1974, Condie S. ( JEEC) ; ibid., (1F), 13–14.VIII.1968, Habeck D.H. ( JEEC) ; PANAMA, Boca del Toro: 2–4 mi. M of Divide on Highway to Chiriquei Grande , mv & bl, (1F, 16M), 1.VI.1986, Ratcliffe B.C. & party ( DBTC, JEEC) ; Chiriqui: Hartmann’ s Finca, (5F, 3M), 4–7.VII.1997, Morris & Wappes ( USNM: 3F, 1M; AMNH: 2F, 1M) ; ibid., (1F, 2M), 4. VII.1997, Turnbow R. ( UGCA) ; Renacimiento Sta. Clara , (1M), 17. VII.1977, Hartmann R. ( JEEC) ; ibid., (1F), 25.VII.1977, Hartmann R. ( JEEC) ; Boquete, 1250 m, (1F), 5.XI.1975, Wolda H. ( JEEC) ; Fortuna, (1M), 13–15.VI.1985, Riley E.G. & Rider D. ( DARC) ; 5 km N Hornito, (1M), 15.V.1996, Turnbow R. ( UGCA) ; Finca Suiza Lodge , Las Minas, Gualaca Dist., 1320 m, (1M), 9–13.VIII.2008, Heppner J.B. ( FSCA) ; VENEZUELA, Aragua: Rancho Grande, (1M, 2F), 10.XII.1980, Ayala L.J. M. ( UNAM) ; ECUADOR, Pichincha: Sto. Domingo , (1M), 25.XI.1971, Venedretott N. ( CMNH) ; ibid., (1M), 30.VI.1973, Venedretott N. ( CMNH) ; Napo: Coca, (1M), IV.1983, Onore ( JEEC) ; Los Rios: Rio Palenque, (1F), 15.VI.1974, Longino J. ( JEEC) ; PERU, Junin: Pampa Hermosa Lodge , 1220m, (1F), 1–6.IV.2011, Heppner J. & Carrera C. ( JEEC) .

Color pattern. Dorsally orange to reddish, and ventrally light yellow ( Fig. 6 D – F). Head. Clypeus with posterior and median spots, mandibular plates with posterior portion (right before the eyes) with 1 + 1 dark spots ( Fig. 7 G). Antennomere I bicolored (first half yellow and distal dark), remaining mostly dark. Rostral segment II light yellow with a median dark blotch, segments III–IV mostly dark. Thorax. Pronotum and scutellum with many small dark spots evenly distributed. Femur with proximal and distal dark blotch about the same size, tibia with medial dark blotch; tarsomeres I and distal half of III dark, remaining yellow. Abdomen. Connexiva yellow, with anterior and posterior dark macules. Ventral pattern. Lateral rows with one solid spot on each sternite; median rows with more than one solid blotches; inner row with a solid blotch on each sternite, culminating into a larger solid blotch on sternite VII. Stridulatory area usually without blotches. Area adjacent to spiracles dark ( Fig. 6 F).

Head. Slightly wider than long. Clypeus clearly surpassing mandibular plates ( Fig. 7 G). Maxillar plates surpassing mandibular plates. Rostrum reaching abdominal sternite III. Thorax. Pronotum, anterolateral margin sub-rectilinear, humeral angles round and produced about half the width of the eye ( Fig. 6 D – F). Peritreme spout-like developed, about three times longer than wide ( Fig. 8 G). Abdomen. Posterior margin of sternite VII slightly sinuous medially ( Fig. 9 G).

Genital plates. Valvifers VIII elongate subtriangular, anterior margin convex, sutural margins convex posteriorly, posterior margin sinuous. Laterotergite IX subtriangular, anterior margin convex, angles not produced ( Fig. 9 G). Gynatrium. Ring sclerites with the posterior half of the inner margin with a thick "leaf-like" sclerotized process. posteromedian gynatrial pouch with a median larger subtriangular sclerite and 2 + 2 sclerites, the intermediate pair sub-rectangular, curved and larger than the median sclerite, lateral pair enlarged, round and produced ( Fig. 11 B).

Genital capsule. Posterior margin markedly excavated medially ( Fig. 12 G). Ventral rim convex in posterior view. Parameres. Crown not surpassing the width of the stem, apex obtuse ( Fig. 12 P). Phallus. Aedeagus sensu stricto tapered towards apex in ventral view, sinuous in lateral view, phallotreme positioned apically and strongly curved dorsally. Conjunctival processes II with a curved process and a broad base, sometimes with a tooth-like process on the outer margin. Conjunctival processes III distally sclerotized into an acute, sinuous process ( Fig. 14 C and D).

Measures. Body length (14.9–18.3) and width (10.2–12.4). Head length (2.6–3.2) and width (3.8–4.3).

Distribution: Occurs mainly in Central America, from M´exico to the western South America as far south as Peru.

Biological notes: Collected with blacklight and mercury vapor light traps.

Etymology and comments. The epithet “multimaculatus” refers to many irregular enlarged blotches, of which the species has the most developed ventral blotches in the genus. In addition to the number of ventral blotches, the posterior margin of the genital capsule is strongly excavated and unique within its congeners.