Kernegaster igneus Schmitz, 2025

Kernegaster igneus Schmitz sp. nov.

( Fig. 1 I; Fig. 6 A – C; Fig. 7 F; Fig. 8 F; Fig. 9 F; Fig. 11 A; Fig. 12 F, O; Fig. 14 A and B)

Tetyra sp. Eger et al., 2015b: 1034 (attraction to fish carrion).

Type Material (38): Holotype. (1M) BRAZIL, Rondˆonia: Ariquemes (62 km SW, Fazenda Rancho Grande ), 5–17.X.1993, Eger J.E., O’ Brien L. B. & C.W. ( MCNZ) .

Paratypes. BRAZIL, Acre: Rio Branco, (2M), 25.X–8.XI.1991, Ramos F., Henriques A., Gorayaeb I. & Bitterncourt N. ( MCNZ) ; Rondˆonia: Ariquemes (62 km SW, Fazenda Rancho Grande ), (1F), 5–17.X.1993, Eger J.E., O’ Brien L.B. & C.W. ( JEEC) ; ibid., (1M), V.1994, Schmitz U. ( JEEC) ; ibid., fish carrion bait butterfly trap, (2M), 5–17.X.1993, Eger J. E., O’ Brien L.B. & C.W. ( JEEC) ; ibid., (1M), 8–20.XI.1994, Eger J.E., O’ Brien L.B. & C.W. ( JEEC) ; ibid., (1M), X.1993, Schmitz U. ( JEEC) ; ibid., (1M), 3–15.XII.1996, Eger J.E. ( JEEC) ; ibid., (1F), 4–16.XI.1997, Eger J. E. ( JEEC) ; Ouro Preto do Oeste, (1F), 18.X.1987, Elias C. ( DZUP 217303 ) ; ibid., (1F), 20.IV.2006, Rafael J.A. & Xavier F.F. ( INPA) ; ECUADOR, Napo: Puerto Misahuallí, 1650–1900 ft, mercury vapor and ultraviolet lights, (1F, 1M), 6–19.IX.1998, Eger J.E. ( JEEC) ; ibid., fish carrion baited butterfly trap (1M) ( JEEC) ; Sucumbíos: Limoncocha , (1M), 23–31.III.1974, Engleman D. ( JEEC) ; PERU, Loreto: Iquitos, Exploronapo , (1M), 30.IX.2015, Cabral U. ( MHNJP) ; Amazonas: Rio Santiago, (1F, 3M), 5.X.1924, no collector (Bassler H. collection) ( AMNH, F6198.2, Acc 33591) ; (1M), 1.X.1924, no collector (Bassler H. collection) ( AMNH, F6139.2, Acc 33591) ; Madre de Dios: Amazonas Lodge, 480 msnm ( N-Atalaya ), (2F), 10–13.XI.2007, Brzoska D. ( UNAM) ; Centro de Investigacion´y Capacitaci´on , Rio Los Amigos, 224–326m, (6M), 1–21.IX.2015, Zenteno N. ( MHNJP) ; ibid., (1M), 18. IX.2015, Zenteno N. ( USNM) ; ibid., (1M), 8–21.IX.2015, Zenteno N. ( USNM) ; ibid., (1M), 11–24.IX.2015, Zenteno N. ( USNM) ; ibid., (1M), 15. XI.2015, no collector ( MHNJP) ; Cuzco: Estacion´Biologica´Villa Carmen , 500–800 m, (2M), 15–31.III.2014, Collanque N. & Ampuero S.Y. ( JEEC) ; Rio Urubamba, (1F), 4.III.1929, no collector (Bassler H. collection) ( AMNH, F6173.2, Acc 33591) ;.

Color pattern. Orange with a great amount of dark punctations sometimes forming well-defined intermittent rows or small areas with fewer dark spots laterally on the scutellum ( Fig. 6 A – C). Head. Mandibular plates with 1 + 1 anterior spots (close to the clypeus), clypeus with 1 + 1 median spots and 1 + 1 longitudinal dark stripes between the eyes. mandibular plates with posterior portion with 1 + 1 dark blotches ( Fig. 7 F). Antennomeres I and II orange, remaining segments bicolored. Rostrum with segment III orange with a median dark blotch, segment IV mostly dark. Thorax. Pronotum and scutellum with many enlarged dark spots evenly distributed, covering about half the area. Femora and tibia entirely orange. First and last tarsomeres dark, remaining yellow. Abdomen. Connexiva orange, with anterior and posterior small dark macule. Ventral pattern. Lateral rows usually absent, sometimes with few dark spots on each sternite. Median rows with a small cluster of spots in each sternite. Inner row with a few aggregations of dark spots on each sternite. Stridulatory areas usually without blotches. Area adjacent to spiracles dark ( Fig. 6 C).

Head. Wider than long. Clypeus clearly surpassing mandibular plates ( Fig. 7 F). Maxillary plates surpassing mandibular plates. Rostrum reaching the middle of sternite III. Thorax. Pronotum with anterolateral margins slightly sinuous, humeral angles obtuse and produced about half the width of the eye ( Fig. 6 A – C). Peritreme spout-like developed, about twice as long as wide ( Fig. 8 F). Abdomen. Posterior margin of sternite VII slightly sinuous ( Fig. 9 F).

Genital plates. Valvifers VIII elongate subtriangular, anterior margin convex, sutural margins convex posteriorly, posterior margin sinuous. Laterotergites IX subtriangular, anterior margin convex (partially hidden by valvifers VIII), lateral angles produced ( Fig. 9 F).

Gynatrium. Ring sclerites with almost the entire inner margin with a thick "leaf-like" sclerotized process. posteromedian gynatrial pouch with a median subtriangular shaped sclerite and 2 + 2 lateral sclerites, the intermediate pair subtriangular and larger than the median, lateral pair small, round and produced ( Fig. 11 A).

Genital capsule. Posterior margin concave medially ( Fig. 12 F). Ventral rim sub-rectilinear in posterior view. Parameres. Crown not surpassing the width of the stem, apex obtuse ( Fig. 12 O). Phallus. Aedeagus sensu stricto tapered towards apex, sinuous in lateral view, phalotreme abruptly curved dorsally. Apex of conjunctival processes II with a curved sclerotized process with a broad base. Distal half of conjunctival processes III sclerotized into an acute, strongly curved process ( Fig. 14 A and B).

Measures. Body length (14.8–16.6) and width (10.2–11.3). Head length (2.9–3.3) and width (3.7–3.9).

Distribution: Occurs through the western Amazonian biome, sharing its distribution between Brazil, Ecuador and Peru.

Biological notes: Intercepted in a suspended trap, attracted to mercury vapor lights, ultraviolet lights, fish carrion baited butterfly trap and multi lure fruit fly trap baited with ammonium nitrate and putricine.

Etymology and comments. The epithet “igneus” refers to tons of orange, red or yellow as “on fire”. The species is usually orange, possessing larger dark spots dorsally, giving it a scorched appearance. The shape of the posterior margin of genital capsule is unique among its congeners. Also, the antennomeres I and II are entirely orange with the remaining antennomeres mainly dark.