New species and new records of semiaquatic bugs (Arthropoda, Insecta, Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Gerromorpha) from French Guiana

Abstract

Semiaquatic bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerromorpha) are predatory insects that occupy a wide range of freshwater and marine habitats, with some secondary transitions to terrestrial life. They currently represent more than 2100 species distributed through all continents, except for Antarctica, and are especially rich in the Neotropical and Oriental regions. Although the fauna from the former region is relatively well known, some areas remain almost unexplored. Such is the case of French Guiana, where only a few species have been previously recorded, several of which based on collections made in the 19thand early 20thcenturies. As a result of material recently collected in the territory, the descriptions ofRhagovelia depressaRodrigues, Khila & Moreira,sp. nov.,R. tantilloidesRodrigues, Khila & Moreira,sp. nov.andSteinovelia vittataRodrigues, Khila & Moreira,sp. nov.(Veliidae) are presented here. New records for 28 species are also provided, of whichCylindrostethus hungerfordiDrake & Harris, 1934,Neogerris magnus(Kuitert, 1942),Rheumatobates mangrovensis(China, 1943),R. trinitatis(China, 1943),Ovatametra obesaKenaga, 1942,Telmatometra fuscaKenaga, 1941,T. parvaKenaga, 1941 (Gerridae),Mesovelia amoenaUhler, 1894 (Mesoveliidae),Rhagovelia brunaeMagalhães & Moreira, 2016,R. elegansUhler, 1894,R. ephydros(Drake & Van Doesburg, 1966),R. equatoriaD. Polhemus, 1997,R. evidisBacon, 1948,R. guiananaD. Polhemus, 1997,R. tenuipesChampion, 1898,Oiovelia cunucunumana(Drake & Maldonado-Capriles, 1952),Stridulivelia alia(Drake, 1957),S. stridulata(Hungerford, 1929), andS. tersa(Drake & Harris, 1941) (Veliidae) are reported from French Guiana for the first time.