Article

Global diversity of true bugs (Heteroptera; Insecta) in freshwater

December 2008
Hydrobiologia 595(1):379-391

December 2008
595(1):379-391

Authors:

Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum

The aquatic and semi-aquatic Heteroptera, consisting of the infraorders Leptopodomorpha, Gerromorpha, and Nepomorpha, comprise a significant component of the world’s aquatic insect biota. Within these three infraorders as a whole there are currently 23 families, 343 genera and 4,810 species group taxa considered valid, of which 20 families, 326 genera and 4,656 species inhabit freshwater. In addition, more than 1,100 unequivocally diagnosed species remain to be described. Aquatic Heteroptera occur on all continents except Antarctica, and are most numerous in the tropical regions, although there are many distinctly cold-adapted genera. Overall species richness is highest in the Neotropical and Oriental regions, which harbor 1,289 and 1,103 species, respectively. In comparison to these core tropical regions, species richness is significantly lower in the Afrotropical (799 species), Australasian (654 species), Palearctic (496 species), Nearctic (424 species) and Pacific (37 species) regions. Aquatic Heteroptera are notable for utilizing an exceptionally broad range of habitats, from marine and intertidal to arctic and high alpine, across a global altitudinal range of 0–4,700m. Species may be found in almost every freshwater biotope, and many exhibit striking morphological adaptations to their aquatic environment, making them excellent subjects for ecological and biogeographic studies.

A synopsis of the numbers of testicular follicles and ovarioles in true bugs (Heteroptera, Hemiptera) – sixty-five years of progress after J. Pendergrast’s review

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2022

The structure of testes and ovaries can be described in its simplest form by the number of follicles and ovarioles they contain. Sixty-five years after the last review of the internal reproductive systems in true bugs (Heteroptera), the data accumulated today on the number of testicular follicles and ovarioles in their gonads are summarized. In addition, data on the number and type (mesadenia/ectadenia) of accessory glands are given. The hemipteran suborder Heteroptera constitutes one of the most diverse groups of non-homometabolous (‘Hemimetabola’) insects, comprising more than 40,000 described species worldwide and approximately 100 families, classified into seven infraorders. Data are available for all infraorders; however, more than 90% of studied species belong to the largest and most evolutionarily derived infraorders Cimicomorpha and Pentatomomorpha. In true bugs, in general, the number of follicles varies from one to nine (in a testis), and the number of ovarioles varies from two to 24 (in an ovary). Seven follicles per testis and seven ovarioles per ovary prevail being found in approximately 43.5% (307 species) and 24.4% (367 species) of studied species, respectively. Such a structure of testes and ovaries is considered an ancestral character state in the Heteroptera. In the evolution of this group, the number of follicles and ovarioles both increased and decreased, but the trend towards a decrease clearly prevailed.

INSETOS AQUÁTICOS BIOINDICADORES DE MUDANÇAS DE USO DA TERRA NO PARÁ, BRASIL: EVIDÊNCIAS E PERSPECTIVAS

Article

Jul 2022

Resumo: Esta revisão teve como objetivo avaliar o histórico da utilização de alguns grupos de Insetos Aquáticos como bioindicadores de alteração ambiental no estado do Pará, assim como discutir as perspectivas futuras dessa temática à luz das novas tecnologias. Verificou-se consideráveis avanços no uso das Ordens Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, Heteroptera e Odonata para monitorar a qualidade ambiental de riachos impactados por diversas atividades antrópicas. Os impactos ambientais mais proeminentes são oriundos de atividades como pecuária, agricultura, mineração, extração de madeira e urbanização. Além dos tradicionais métodos de estudos de espécies indicadoras, constatou-se que o uso de mudanças na estrutura das comunidades, em facetas como a riqueza de espécies, abundância de indivíduos e diversidade beta para monitorar a qualidade ambiental foi eficiente. Em perspectivas futuras, precisa-se conhecer melhor a biologia das espécies para que aspectos comportamentais e funcionais sejam utilizados conjuntamente com as medidas taxonômicas tradicionais para o monitoramento ambiental. Isso possibilitará uma visão mais completa de como os ecossistemas aquáticos são afetados, permitindo o planejamento de medidas mais eficazes de monitoramento e de mitigação dos impactos provocados pelas alterações ambientais na biodiversidade aquática, em especial dos insetos.

Description of a New Species and New Records of Naucoridae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Nepomorpha) from Eastern Brazil

Article

Full-text available

May 2024

The aquatic bug family Naucoridae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Nepomorpha) is currently represented in Brazil by 68 species. Although the diversity of the family has been the target of several recent studies, large areas of the country are still unexplored and several species that have been deposited in entomological collections are waiting for a formal description. Aiming to fill these knowledge gaps, a series of expeditions were carried out in six states of eastern Brazil between 2018 and 2023: Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Espírito Santo, Pernambuco, and Sergipe. The fieldwork targeted protected areas, but surrounding regions were also explored. The material obtained, in addition to specimens previously deposited in a national entomological collection, revealed the existence of Australambrysus margaritifer Jordão, Santos and Moreira, a new species herein described, and new records for other 11 species and two subspecies belonging to the genera Carvalhoiella De Carlo, 1963, Limnocoris Stål, 1876, Maculambrysus Reynoso-Velasco and Sites 2021, and Pelocoris Stål, 1876.

Substantial unrealised global biodiversity of continental microcrustaceans

Article

Full-text available

May 2024
J PLANKTON RES

Freshwater ecosystems provide essential services for human well-being, with their conservation success reliant on the precise quantification of biodiversity. Diplostraca (= Cladocera) and Copepoda are diverse groups of microcrustaceans in aquatic ecosystems, important for a multitude of these services. We examined biodiversity trends of these groups utilising a comprehensive dataset, approximately 2341 studies, spanning from the early 19th Century to the present day, aiming at predicting the total number of microcrustacean species that will have been described by 2100. Descriptions increased until the 1900s, surged, and then declined after 1975. The predictive models indicate that by the year 2100, an additional 16–68% of cladoceran species and 37–126% of copepod species are likely to be identified, representing a significant portion of currently unrealised biodiversity. Eighteen prolific authors contributed to a quarter of these descriptions, with the rest spread among numerous authorities. Based on our extrapolation, the total number of microcrustacean species could potentially exceed 6114 by 2050 and 9046 by 2100, notwithstanding extinctions. These findings, which point to a significant amount of unrealised biodiversity, underscore the need to refine biodiversity estimates beyond conventional expert opinion. Such accuracy is crucial for addressing the underappreciated scale of the current biodiversity crisis.

Notes on Gerridae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerromorpha) from the Eastern Ghats of Telangana and Northern Andhra Pradesh, India

Article

May 2024

Gerridae is the family of semi-aquatic bugs found in both the lentic and lotic freshwater bodies. The present study focused on the Gerridae from the Eastern Ghats of Telangana and Northern Andhra Pradesh, India. This study documented a total number of 16 species belonging to 13 genera and 7 subfamilies under the family Gerridae. Tenagogonus nicobarensis Andersen, 1964, was earlier described from Andaman and Nicober islands and also known to be endemic to that particular geographical area. We are recording this species for the first time from the mainland of the Indian subcontinent. Ventidius aquarius Distant, 1910 was also recorded for the first time during this present study from the Eastern Ghats, an endemic species to peninsular India. Another species, Naboandelus signatus Distant, 1910 is also recorded from the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh as well as an addition to the state fauna of Andhra Pradesh. It is a widespread species and reported from both central and northeastern India. In southern India, it was reported from the two states and present record will be the additional third state to its distribution. In addition to taxonomic details, the article covers the geographic distribution of the 16 species. This study has also led to the addition of nine species of Gerridae to the state fauna of Andhra Pradesh.

DNA barcode-based survey documents underestimated diversity and intricate phylogeographic patterns of aquatic Heteroptera in an endangered Balkan biodiversity hotspot: ancient Lake Skadar basin

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2023
BIODIVERS CONSERV

Lake Skadar with its surrounding springs, wetlands and larger affluents is among the most diverse freshwater ecosystems in the Mediterranean region and a key biodiversity/ende-mism hotspot in Europe. It is also highly endangered due to climate change and rapid tourism development in the area. Being abundant, diverse and mostly predatory, true aquatic bugs play an important role in the functioning of freshwater ecosystems and are used as indicators of aquatic habitat quality. Nevertheless, this taxonomic group has been scarcely studied in the area. Our survey provides the first comprehensive DNA barcode library for 24 out of 25 species of aquatic Heteroptera collected in the Skadar Lake basin and adjacent regions. By this, we extend the list of species known from the area by 60%. In the case of three species, Notonecta maculata, Hydrometra stagnorum and Nepa cinerea, we detected multiple highly divergent, and also new BINs indicating possible taxonomic inconsistencies , the potential for (pseudo)cryptic diversity and intricate phylogeographic patterns. We show that presumably well-known hotspots, such as Lake Skadar region, are heavily understudied regarding even the prominent insect taxa and, thus, particularly vulnerable to undocumented biodiversity loss. Finally, we underline the value of simple DNA-barcod-ing-based surveys for providing reference barcode libraries for effective biomonitoring and signalling taxonomic and biogeographic issues.

DNA barcode-based survey documents underestimated diversity and intricate phylogeographic patterns of aquatic Heteroptera in an endangered Balkan biodiversity hotspot: ancient Lake Skadar basin

Preprint

Full-text available

Jul 2023

Lake Skadar with its surrounding springs, wetlands and larger affluents is among the most diverse freshwater ecosystems in the Mediterranean region and a key biodiversity/endemism hotspot in Europe. It is also highly endangered due to climate change and rapid tourism development in the area. Being abundant, diverse and mostly predatory, true aquatic bugs play an important role in the functioning of freshwater ecosystems and are used as indicators of aquatic habitat quality. Nevertheless, this taxonomic group has been scarcely studied in the area. Our survey provides the first comprehensive DNA barcode library for 24 out of 25 species of aquatic Heteroptera collected in the Skadar Lake basin and adjacent regions. By this, we extend the list of species known from the area by 60%. In the case of three species, Notonecta maculata, Hydrometra stagnorum and Nepa cinerea, we detected multiple highly divergent, and also new BINs indicating possible taxonomic inconsistencies, the potential for (pseudo)cryptic diversity and intricate phylogeographic patterns. We show that presumably well-known hotspots, such as Lake Skadar region, are heavily understudied regarding even the prominent insect taxa and, thus, particularly vulnerable to undocumented biodiversity loss. Finally, we underline the value of simple DNA- barcoding-based surveys for providing reference barcode libraries for effective biomonitoring and signalling taxonomic and biogeographic issues.

Water Strider Fauna and its Phylogenetic Relationship in Tehsil Wazirabad

Article

Apr 2023

This examination is intended to investigate the water strider fauna and their phylogenetic relationship in Tehsil Wazirabad, Punjab, Pakistan. Being a decent predator of mosquitoes and successful bioindicator of substantial metal contamination it assumes the imperative job to keep up the manageability of the biological system. The examples of water strider bug were gathered from different oceanic locales during summer and spring from 2018-2019 in Wazirabad City. The type of water strider that was distinguished during this exploration is Aquarius adelaidis (Zettel) having a place with distinct genera Aquarius of the family Gerridae. It likewise uncovered that Aquarius adelaidis disengaged from Wazirabad area has homology a with arrangement of water strider detailed from Cyprus island situated in the northeastern piece of the Eastern Mediterranean. The arrangement examination found that cytochrome c oxidase subunit I is profoundly monitored locale inside all Aquarius species around the world, and is less inclined to varieties and transformations. Aquarius adelaidis is increasingly bountiful with 58.2% of complete assortment.

Phylogenetic and morphological analyses of Japanese Aquarius water strider, with a new synonym

Article

Mar 2023

The genus Aquarius, of the subfamily Gerrinae, was formerly divided into two species and one subspecies in Japan (A. paludum paludum, A. paludum amamiensis and A. elongatus, respectively). Aquarius haliplous Yasunaga et al. 2018 has recently been described as a new species, which occurs in brackish waters of Nagasaki Prefecture and is found sympatrically with the widely distributed species, A. p. paludum. However, they are considered to be speciated, with no cross-breeding. In this study, molecular phylogenetic and morphological analyses were undertaken using the mitochondrial DNA COI (529 bp) and nuclear DNA histone H3 (314 bp) gene regions to investigate the genetic and morphological differentiation in the genus Aquarius, including A. haliplous, throughout Japan (including the islands). The results show that, unlike A. p. paludum, A. p. amamiensis and A. haliplous, A. elongatus displays substantial genetic differentiation. Considering that, although morphological differences exist in the antennae of A. p. paludum and A. p. amamiensis, A. haliplous has no clear genetic or morphological difference from A. p. paludum, and hence cannot be classified as a distinct species. Therefore, we propose that A. haliplous be synonymized with A. paludum.

50%, not great, not terrible: Pan-European gap-analysis shows the real status of the DNA barcode reference libraries in two aquatic invertebrate groups and points the way ahead

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2023
SCI TOTAL ENVIRON

The essential key to routine molecular species identification (DNA barcoding/metabarcoding) is the existence of an error-free DNA barcode reference library providing full coverage of all species. Published studies generally state the need to produce more barcodes, and control their quality, but unfortunately, the number of barcoded species is still low. However, to initiate real progress, we need to know where the gaps lie, how big they are and why they persist. Our aims were to draw and understand the current state of knowledge regarding species diversity, distribution, and barcode coverage, and offer solutions for improvement. In this study, we used two groups of aquatic insects, beetles and true bugs. We have compiled and critically evaluated an essentially complete and up-to-date European list, containing 1527 species. The list served as a basis for the barcode gap analyses in the Barcode-of-Life-Data-System (BOLD) conducted in three subsequent years (2020–2022). The overall barcode coverage of the pan-European fauna was around 50 % in both groups. The lowest coverage was in the Mediterranean, the Balkans and South-eastern Europe. The coverage in each country depended significantly on the local diversity, the number of rare, endemic species and the similarity of its fauna to that of the most active barcoding European countries. Gap analyses showed a very small increase in species coverage (<1 % in European aquatic beetles) despite an ~25 % increase in the number of barcodes. Hence, it is clear that future barcoding campaigns must prioritise quality over quantity. To visibly improve reference libraries, we need to increase the involvement of taxonomic experts and focus on targeted studies and underexplored but biodiversity-rich areas.

Unravelling the environmental correlates influencing the seasonal biodiversity of aquatic Heteropteran assemblages in northern Africa

Article

Sep 2022
LIMNOLOGICA

Heteropteran communities form a key component of aquatic ecosystems but have not been widely studied compared to other freshwater faunal groups. This research examined the environmental parameters influencing the diversity, seasonal distribution and structure of aquatic Heteroptera assemblages in the Mediterranean region of Tunisia, northern Africa. Heteropterans were most abundant during spring and summer, coinciding with the emergence of several species and the most favorable environmental conditions for benthic aquatic fauna. Three-way multivariate analyses (combining community composition data from all sites and seasons) highlighted the longitudinal spatial organization of Heteropteran communities. Headwater regions were dominated by halophobic sensitive taxa, and lowland sites were characterized by high salinity resistant taxa (halophilic taxa). The longitudinal organization was driven by gradients of mineralization (salinity and electrical conductivity) and oxygen (DO, COD and BOD) concentrations. Taxonomic composition differed between river catchments, with significantly higher diversity (taxa richness) in the streams with adjacent riparian forest cover. These sites were characterized by the presence of endemic species, such as Velia africana and Velia eckerleini, and rare species, Notonecta meridionalis, and Aquarius najas. Results recorded highlight the importance of aquatic vegetation and water quality in driving the seasonal and spatial variability of Heteropterans, and provide important information to inform the management and conservation of freshwater biodiversity in Northern Africa.

A synopsis of the genus Cylindrostethus Fieber 1861 (Insecta: Hemiptera: Gerridae)

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2024
NEOTROP ENTOMOL

Cylindrostethus Fieber, 1861 is one of the most striking genera of water striders (Insecta: Hemiptera: Gerridae) and has Pantropical distribution. Members of this group can be recognized by the very long, cylindrical body; the short antennomere IV; the short labium not reaching the mesosternum; and by characteristics of the abdomen of males and females. Although Neotropical representatives of the genus have been revised, there are pending taxonomic issues related to this fauna, and that of the Eastern Hemisphere has been barely studied in recent years. Here, we present a short note about the authorship of Cylindrostethus, an updated key to all species of the genus, a new synonymy, and the description of a previously unknown macropterous male of C. hungerfordi Drake and Harris.

Study Of Aquatic Hemipteran And Coleopteran With Their Ecological Impacts: A Review

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2024

In the natural world, utilitarian diversification of the earthbound is predominantly composed of the amazing numerous and enormously sophisticated bugs and beetles. Investigation of biodiversity is one of the crucial ways of dealing with evaluating structure, overflow, and examination of occupying species in the different aquatic ecosystems. Aquatic bugs (water striders, water scorpions) and beetles (diving beetles, water scavenger beetles) are great signs of the organic soundness of an aquatic ecosystem since some of them are harmless and sensitive to contamination, while others can live in upset and incredibly dirtied waters. Hemiptera and Coleoptera are two significant orders that normally exist in oceanic frameworks, feeding on dead leaves or predaceous, interdependent for predation and competition, sometimes acting as a nuisance and structuring the foundation of aquatic habitats. Hence, there is need for a regular identification, habitat modification, monitoring, and conservation of these essential orders.

Odonata, Coleoptera, and Heteroptera (OCH) Trait-Based Biomonitoring of Rivers within the Northwestern Rif of Morocco: Exploring the Responses of Traits to Prevailing Environmental Gradients

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2024

This study aimed to determine the impact of various pressures on the functional composition of OCH (Odonata, Coleoptera, and Heteroptera) in streams within the northwest Rif region of Morocco. We examined how OCH traits respond to human-induced pressures in selected stream sites in Morocco’s northwestern Rif region. OCH specimens were collected from 36 sites using a Surber sampler with dimension of 20 × 20 cm and mesh size of 500 µm over the course of two years, from 2021 to 2023. We measured physico-chemical and hydraulic parameters such as temperature, pH, DO, and NO-3. Sixty-seven trait attributes from 11 trait classes were assigned to the collected OCH taxa at the family level. Following the delineation of sites along the gradient of impacts in the study area, we categorized 7 sites as slightly impacted sites (SISs), 19 sites as moderately impacted sites (MISs), and 10 sites as heavily impacted sites (HISs). We successfully identified and categorized the traits as either vulnerable or tolerant based on RLQ models. Traits such as reproductive cycles per year and tegument respiration, which were positively correlated with SISs in the RLQ model and also positively correlated with depth and chlorine, were identified as vulnerable traits. Crawling locomotion and full water swimming were identified as tolerant traits. The distribution patterns of the OCH taxa revealed a robust correlation between the taxa and the sampling sites. Notably, taxa such as Nepidae, Naucoridae, and Corixidae exhibited widespread distribution and a strong association with the SISs. On the other hand, traits related to living macroinvertebrate food sources and reproduction in vegetation, specifically clutches, exhibited a negative correlation with total dissolved solids. Incorporating OCH functional traits into biomonitoring programs allows for a more comprehensive assessment of river ecosystems. This approach provides a nuanced understanding of how different stressors impact the community composition and overall ecological health.

Complete Mitochondrial Genome of the Backswimmer: Notonecta triguttata Motschulsky, 1861 (Hemiptera: Notonectidae): Sequence, Structure, and Phylogenetic Analysis

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2023
Diversity

Notonecta triguttata Motschulsky, 1861 (Hemiptera, Notonectidae) is distributed in China, Japan, and South Korea. It is the dominant hexapod predator in aquatic ecosystems and can control harmful insects, such as mosquitoes and parasites. This study presents the first determination of the complete mitochondrial genome of N. triguttata. The mitogenome was 15,156 base pairs in length and was made up of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNAs, 22 transfer RNAs, and one non-coding control region. All genes were arranged in the same order as most other known heteropteran mitogenomes. All PCGs started with the ATN codon except COX1 (TTG) and NAD2 (GTG) and ended with TAA, TAG, or the partial stop codon T. The tRNAs had a typical cloverleaf secondary structure, except tRNA-Ser (GCT). The A + T content (75.96%) was relatively high across the entire mitogenome. The optimal phylogenetic trees were inferred through the Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods. The trees suggested a topology of (Corixoidea + ((Nepoidea + Ochteroidea) + (Naucoroidea + (Pleoidea + Notonectoidea)))) and identified that N. triguttata belongs to Notonectoidea. The complete mitogenome of N. triguttata provides a potentially useful resource for further exploration of the taxonomic status and phylogenetic history of the Notonecta species.

A New Species of Spelaeometra Polhemus & Ferreira, 2018 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Hydrometridae) from a Hotspot of Troglobites in Brazil, Serra do Ramalho Karst Area

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2023

Simple Summary Water measurers (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Hydrometridae) can be found mainly on marginal vegetation or on plants on the surface of freshwater bodies. Recently, two monotypic genera restricted to subterranean habitats were described from Brazil, namely Cephalometra Polhemus & Ferreira, 2018 and Spelaeometra Polhemus & Ferreira, 2018. Here, a second species of Spelaeometra is described based on material collected in a hotspot of subterranean animals in the Serra do Ramalho karst area, Brazil. Abstract Spelaeometra Polhemus & Ferreira, 2018 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Hydrometridae) is a monotypic and troglobitic genus, recently described based on material collected in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. From specimens collected in the Gruna do Enfurnado Cave in the Serra do Ramalho karst area, municipality of Coribe, state of Bahia, Brazil, we describe Spelaeometra hypogea Cordeiro & Moreira, sp. nov. and compare it with Spelaeometra gruta Polhemus & Ferreira, 2018. The new species is diagnosed by the general body color being pale-yellow to light-brown; antennal segments I and II being subequal in length; the reduced gular lobe, not covering any labial segment; the male proctiger without apical projections; and the male paramere with convex dorsal margin after the curvature, with a narrow hook-like apex.

Minicurso insetos aquáticos: biologia, taxonomia e conservação

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2023

RESUMO Os insetos aquáticos são invertebrados que apresentam parte ou todo o seu ciclo de vida na água. No estado do Acre o conhecimento sobre essa fauna ainda é incipiente, mesmo diante da grande biodiversidade encontrada nessa região. O surgimento de ações extensionistas a partir das pesquisas científicas realizadas pelos Institutos Federais fornece meios para reduzir esse distanciamento entre a ciência e a comunidade. O minicurso teve como objetivo apresentar de maneira didática e acessível os conhecimentos teóricos e práticos sobre a biologia, taxonomia e conservação de insetos aquáticos. Ao todo foram atendidos trinta alunos que passaram por aulas teóricas, treinamento em campo para coleta, triagem e preservação de insetos e identificação em laboratório com uso de chaves taxonômicas. Esse projeto permitiu a formação continuada de alunos da graduação de licenciatura além de despertar o interesse pelo estudo da entomologia aquática na região.

New species, new records and key to the species of the Rhagovelia itatiaiana group (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Veliidae) from Brazil

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2023

Rhagovelia Mayr, 1865 (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Veliidae), known as riffle bugs, includes more than 400 species and is commonly found in tropical lotic environments, including coastal marine habitats, such as mangroves and estuaries. Due to the elevated number of species, the fauna from the Americas has been divided into several groups, which facilitates taxonomic studies. Amongst them, the itatiana group currently includes two species from the Greater Antilles and five from south-eastern and southern Brazil. Despite the many taxonomic studies developed during the past few decades, new species of Rhagovelia are still being discovered in several areas of the continent, including the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil. Rhagovelia bispoi sp. n. is described, illustrated and compared with similar congeners. The new species belongs to the itatiaiana group and can be diagnosed by the uniformly black mesonotum, the presence of a tuft of setae medially on male abdominal sternum VII, the armature of the male hind femur and the distinctive shape of the paramere. In addition, we present new records of R. trepida Bacon, 1948 from the States of Paraná and Santa Catarina and a key to the species of the itatiaiana group recorded from Brazil.

The Leg Sensilla of Insects from Different Habitats—Comparison of Strictly Aquatic and Riparian Bugs (Corixidae, Ochteridae, Gelastocoridae: Nepomorpha: Insecta: Heteroptera)

Article

Full-text available

May 2023

Simple Summary Insects of the Nepomorpha infraorder live in various environments—some are associated strictly with water and some are mostly terrestrial. In this study, we examined specimens from the aquatic Corixidae and two riparian families—Ochteridae and Gelastocoridae. Apart from the differences in general leg morphology (legs adapted for swimming in Corixidae and for walking in Ochteroidea), there were eight types of sensilla found on the legs. From those, mechanosensilla displayed the most observed variability. The leg sensilla of Nepomorpha had not been studied until now. Abstract The aim of this study was to analyze morphological types and arrangement of the leg sensilla of Corixidae, Ochteridae and Gelastocoridae, in relation to their various habitats. The leg sensilla of four species of Corixidae, six of Gelastocoridae and two of Ochteridae were studied. Eight main types of sensilla with six subtypes of sensilla trichodea and four subtypes of sensilla chaetica were found and described. The greatest variability was observed among mechanoreceptive sensilla. The study showed differences in the shape of the legs between strictly aquatic and terrestrial taxa. It is the first attempt to describe leg sensilla among nepomorphan taxa.

Uncovering the determinants of biodiversity hotspots in China: Evidence from the drivers of multiple diversity metrics on insect assemblages and implications for conservation

Article

Apr 2023
SCI TOTAL ENVIRON

Understanding large-scale biodiversity patterns and underlying mechanisms during the formation process is essential for guiding conservation efforts. However, previous studies on the identification and formation mechanism of diversity hotspots in China were often limited to a single (alpha) diversity metric, while multiple (beta or zeta) diversity has rarely been used for exploring drivers and conservation actions. Here, a comprehensive species distribution dataset consisting of representative families of three insect orders was compiled to explore biodiversity hotspots based on different algorithms. Furthermore, to assess the effects of environmental factors on hotspots, we fitted generalized additive mixed-effects models (GAMMs) for species richness, generalized dissimilarity models (GDMs) and multi-site generalized dissimilarity modeling (MS-GDM) for the total beta and zeta diversity. Our results showed that biodiversity hotspots were mainly concentrated in central and southern China, especially in mountainous areas with complex topography, which indicated the insects' affinity to montane environments. Further analyses based on multiple models showed that water-energy factors exerted the strongest explanatory power for the insect assemblage diversity in hotspots of both alpha and beta (or zeta) levels. Additionally, anthropogenic factors also exerted a significant effect on hotspots, and this effect was higher for beta diversity than for alpha diversity. Overall, our study elucidates a comprehensive analysis of the identification and underlying mechanism of biodiversity hotspots in China. Despite several limitations, we still believe that our findings can provide some new insights for conservation efforts in Chinese hotspots.

Phylogenetic analysis of the Belostoma plebejum group sensu Nieser (Insecta, Hemiptera, Belostomatidae): the effect of adding continuous characters on its accuracy

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2023

Academic Editors Bruno Clarkson, Mónica M. Solórzano-Kraemer Citation: Ribeiro JRI, Ferrari A (2023) Phylogenetic analysis of the Belostoma plebejum group sensu Nieser (Insecta, Hemiptera, Belostomatidae): the effect of adding continuous characters on its accuracy. Abstract The Belostoma plebejum group comprises nine species, and the most evident characteristic shared by all species of the group is a phallus that is strongly curved ventrally. The difficulty in studying its species is much aggravated by the scarcity of identified material in Brazilian collections, and this has negatively impacted phylogenetic studies within the group. We tested the monophyly of the B. plebejum group using discrete and continuous characters under different weighting schemes and inferences. We described B. lanemeloi sp. nov. and B. nieseri sp. nov. and they served as the basis to study the phylogenetic relationships. A strict-consensus tree recovered under maximum parsimony and with implicit weighting scheme is as follows: (B. parvum, ((B. lanemeloi sp. nov., (B. nessimiani, B. nieseri sp. nov.)), (B. micantulum var1, (B. micantulum var2, (B. estevezae, ((B. plebejum, (B. minusculum var1, B. minusculum var2)), ((B. nicaeum var1, B. nicaeum var2), ((B. lariversi var1, B. lariversi var2), (B. pygmeum var1, B. pygmeum var2))))))))). The monophyly of the B. plebejum group is corroborated by four non-homoplastic synapomorphies, and the aforemen-tioned condition of the phallus is one of them. We tested the phylogenetic integrity of some species of the B. plebejum group, and only the exemplars of B. micantulum did not constitute monophyletic clades. Comparing the topologies obtained by different approaches clearly showed the presence of different scenarios in terms of heterogeneity of evolutionary rates among characters, but this could also be influenced by the disproportionate number of discrete characters compared with continuous characters.

Aquatic bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) diversity of two Tiger Reserves state Telangana, India

Preprint

Full-text available

Jan 2023

The diversity and distribution of aquatic Hemipterans were studied from Amrabad and Kawal Tiger Reserve of state Telangana. This reportdocuments 38 species of aquatic hemipterans belonging to 22 genera and 10 families from Amrabad and Kawal Tiger Reserve. Interestingly, 20 species were noted as additions to the state of Telangana with two species Ranatra libera Zettel, 1999 and Rhagovelia sumatrensis Lundblad, 1933 were observed, where the first one is the new distributional record to Deccan peninsula and latter one from southern India. Global distribution map also presented here in this article. Kawal Tiger Reserve has high species diversity than the Amrabad tiger Reserve. The present report is the first documentation from both tiger reserves on aquatic hemipterans from the state of Telangana.

Selective effect of fish farming management on freshwater diversity

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2022
BIODIVERS CONSERV

In some European regions, ponds are the dominant freshwater habitat type. The ecological value of ponds is decreasing owing to human activities, including intensive fish farming involving predation pressure from fish, reduction of macrophytic vegetation, high nutrient loads, and turbidity. Studies have shown the negative effects of high fish stocks on the diversity of macroinvertebrates. Nevertheless, the effect of fish predation on invertebrate communities could be strongly influenced by other factors, such as the structural complexity of aquatic vegetation. Consequently, we aimed to analyze the effects of environmental-trait interactions on the responses of amphibians, odonates, aquatic true bugs, and diving beetles that are directly or indirectly related to pond management. Each monitored group reflected very different variables. Odonates were sensitive to variables reflecting the quality of the aquatic environment and the overall landscape structure, and accurately reflected differences in the management intensity of ponds. Amphibians reflected only the landscape structure, while diving beetles reflected the quality of the aquatic environment. The aquatic Heteroptera community structure was very indifferent to the management and habitat quality. With the exception of oviposition strategies, we were unable to identify functional traits that could present adaptive advantages or disadvantages in relation to management intensity. We deduced that fish farming management is a selective mechanism that operates with an enormously high intensity which fundamentally homogenizes the structure of assemblages and therefore there is no morphological or phenological variability among species. It is therefore difficult to implement appropriate management measures that would benefit species across taxonomic groups. The key is to maintain the variability of the ponds and surrounding landscape mosaic. Moreover, farm ponds are secondary habitats whose role in supporting biodiversity may be important but cannot be seen as an equal alternative to natural wetlands.

Notes on genus \(\textit{Laccotrephes}\) Stål, 1866 (Hemiptera: Nepidae: Nepinae) from Vietnam, with the description of the female of \(\textit{Laccotrephes longicaudatus}\) Nieser, Zettel & Chen, 2009

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Jun 2022

A taxonomic study of the genus Laccotrephes Stål, 1866 from Vietnam is presented. Four species of the genus Laccotrephes have been identified in Vietnam: Laccotrephes pfeiferiae (Ferrari, 1888), Laccotrephes longicaudatus Nieser, Zettel & Chen, 2009, Laccotrephes simulatus Montandon, 1913 and Laccotrephes grossus (Fabricius, 1787). The female of the species Laccotrephes longicaudatus Nieser, Zettel & Chen is described for the first time. A key to the species of genus Laccotrephes known from Vietnam is also provided.

Species Composition of Aquatic (Nepomorpha) and Semiaquatic (Gerromorpha) Heteroptera (Insecta: Hemiptera) in Kaeng Krachan National Park, Phetchaburi Province, Thailand

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Jun 2022
Diversity

The species composition of aquatic (Nepomorpha) and semiaquatic (Gerromorpha) Heteroptera were examined from protected and unprotected study sites in three streams associated with Kaeng Krachan National Park. At each stream, both quantitative and qualitative sampling methods were used during seven collecting events (November 2018 to June 2020). A total of 11 families, representing 33 genera and 60 species, were collected in this study, with more Nepomorpha families but higher species richness in Gerromorpha. The species richness of both protected and unprotected sampling sites were lowest during the fifth sampling event. Nevertheless, there was no significant difference in richness between protected and unprotected sampling sites for any sampling event based on a paired t-test analysis. Based on an nMDS analysis, the patterns of species composition of aquatic and semiaquatic heteropterans were unclear among protected and unprotected sampling sites. The use of aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera as bioindicators for habitat quality is still uncertain. Additional physiochemical characters of the water and physical characters of the stream may lead to a clearer picture of the relationship between aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera and stream habitat quality.

First report of the genus Thirumalaia Zettel & Laciny, 2021 (Hemiptera: Veliidae) in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, with the description of a new species

Article

May 2022
ZOOTAXA

Ryosuke Matsushima

The genus Thirumalaia Zettel & Laciny, 2021 (Veliidae: Microveliinae) was recently established with one Indian species. Here, a new species, T. kaara sp. nov., from Ishigaki-jima Island and Iriomote-jima Island, Ryukyu, Japan is described. Additionally, the distribution of the genus is updated and laboratory rearing information of the immature stages of T. kaara sp. nov. are provided.

Chromosomal distribution of major rDNA and genome size variation in Belostoma angustum Lauck, B. nessimiani Ribeiro & Alecrim, and B. sanctulum Montandon (Insecta, Heteroptera, Belostomatidae)

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Full-text available

May 2022
GENETICA

Known as "electric-light bugs", belostomatids potentially act as agents of biological control. The Belostoma genus has holokinetic chromosomes, interspecific variation in diploid number, sex chromosome system and DNA content. Thus, the chromosomal complement, the accumulation of constitutive heterochromatin and the distribution of rDNA clusters by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in Belostoma angustum (BAN), Belostoma sanctulum (BSA), and Belostoma nessimiani (BNE) were evaluated. In addition, a comparative analysis of the DNA content of these species and B. estevezae (BES) was performed. BES has the highest Belostoma DNA content, while BSA has the lowest. BAN showed 2n = 29 + X1X2Y, while BSA and BNE had 2n = 14 + XY. BSA showed 18S rDNA markings on sex chromosomes, while BNE and BAN did on autosomes. The difference between BSA and BNE occurs because of the possible movement of the rDNA cluster in BNE. We suggest the occurrence of fusion in the autosomes of BSA and BNE, and fragmentation in the sex chromosomes in BAN. Also, the genome size of 1–2 pg represents a haploid DNA content of a common ancestor, from which the genomes of BES and BAN had evolved by gene duplication and heterochromatinization events.

Pollution impacts on water bugs (Nepomorpha, Gerromorpha): state of the art and their biomonitoring potential

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Full-text available

Apr 2022
ENVIRON MONIT ASSESS

As water pollution poses an increasing risk worldwide, it is timely to assess the achievements of the aquatic macroinvertebrate ecotoxicology to provide a sound basis for the discipline’s future and support the development of biomonitoring. Aquatic and semi-aquatic bugs (Hemiptera: Nepomorpha, Gerromorpha) are ubiquitous in almost all water types, sometimes in high densities, and play a significant role in organic material turnover and energy flow. Nevertheless, they are ignored in the water pollution biomonitoring schemes. Here, based on 300 papers, we review and evaluate the effects of chemical pesticides, microorganism-derived pesticides, insecticides of plant origin, heavy metals, eutrophication, salinisation and light pollution which are summarised for the first time. Our review encompasses the results of 100 laboratory and 39 semi-field/field experiments with 47 pesticides and 70 active ingredients. Pyrethroids were found to be more toxic than organochlorine, organophosphate and neonicotinoid insecticides to water bugs, like other macroinvertebrate groups. Additionally, in 10 out of 17 cases, the recommended field concentration of the pesticide was higher than the LC50 values, indicating potential hazards to water bugs. The recommended field concentrations of pesticides used in mosquito larvae control were found non-toxic to water bugs. As very few replicated studies are available, other findings on the effects of pesticides cannot be generalised. The microorganism-derived pesticide Bti appears to be safe when used at the recommended field concentration. Data indicates that plant-derived pesticides are safe with a high degree of certainty. We have identified three research areas where water bugs could be better involved in water biomonitoring. First, some Halobates spp. are excellent, and Gerris spp. are promising sentinels for Cd contamination. Second, Micronecta and, to a certain extent, Corixidae species composition is connected to and the indicator of eutrophication. Third, the species composition of the Corixidae is related to salinisation, and a preliminary method to quantify the relationship is already available. Our review highlights the potential of water bugs in water pollution monitoring.

Ampliación en la distribución biogeográfica de la familia Pleidae (Hemiptera: Nepomorpha) en Colombia*

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Mar 2022

The Pleidae family is distributed worldwide and includes four genera, about 38 species and one subspecies. In South America, this group is represented by three genera: Neoplea, Paraplea and Heteroplea. In Colombia, the two first genera are registered, but knowledge of their distribution in the national territory is still incipient. Objective: To expand the knowledge of the Pleidae in Colombia by reporting new geographic records. Methodology: Entomological material from different research projects deposited in the Colección Entomológica del Programa de Biología de la Universidad de Caldas (CEBUC) was reviewed and secondary information was collected with records of Pleidae in Colombia. Results: As a result, the genus Neoplea is registered for the first time for the departments of Caldas and Tolima, and its distribution is also expanded in the department of Córdoba. Two species are reported in this work: N. maculosa and N. semipicta. The first species is registered only in Córdoba and the second one in the three mentioned departments. Conclusion: This work broadens the knowledge of the Pleidae of Colombia and also highlights the importance of biological collections.

Influence of habitat complexity on the prey mortality in IGP system involving insect predators (Heteroptera) and prey (Diptera): Implications in biological control

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2022
PLOS ONE

Intraguild predation (IGP) is common in the freshwater insect communities, involving a top predator, intraguild prey (IG prey) and a shared prey. Influence of the habitat complexity on the prey-predator interactions is well established through several studies. In the present instance, the IGP involving the heteropteran predators and the dipteran prey were assessed in the background of the habitat complexity. The three predators Diplonychus rusticus, Ranatra filiformis, and Laccotrephes griseus, one intraguild prey Anisops bouvieri and two dipteran prey Culex quinquefasciatus and Chironomus sp. were used in different relative density against the complex habitat conditions to deduce the impact on the mortality on the prey. In comparison to the open conditions, the presence of the macrophytes and pebbles reduced the mortality of the shared prey under intraguild system as well as single predator system. The mortality of the shared prey was however dependent on the density of the predator and prey. Considering the shared prey mortality, predation on mosquito larvae was always higher in single predator system than chironomid larvae irrespective of identity and density of predators. However, for both the shared prey, complexity of habitat reduced the prey vulnerability in comparison to the simple habitat condition. Higher observed prey consumption depicts the higher risk to predation of shared prey, though the values varied with habitat conditions. Mortality of IG prey (A. bouvieri) in IGP system followed the opposite trend of the shared prey. The lower mortality in simple habitat and higher mortality in complex habitat conditions was observed for the IG prey, irrespective of shared prey and predator density. In IGP system, the shared prey mortality was influenced by the habitat conditions, with more complex habitat reducing the vulnerability of the shared prey and increased mortality of the IG prey. This implies that the regulation of the mosquitoes, in the IGP system will be impeded by the habitat conditions, with the heteropteran predators as the top predator.

Leg length and bristle density, both necessary for water surface locomotion, are genetically correlated in water striders

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Mar 2022
P NATL ACAD SCI USA

Significance When organisms access unexploited ecological opportunities, species diversification often follows, yet the mechanisms underlying such transitions are poorly understood. Water striders transited from terrestrial to water surface life some 200 Mya, aided by the evolution of superhydrophobic bristles and increased leg length, both required for standing and moving on water. We identified genes involved in both bristle density and leg length, suggesting that these two traits are genetically correlated. Strikingly, these genes are involved in cell division, thus explaining their dual role in leg growth and bristle density. In addition, we identified molecular changes that account in part for the differences in bristle density across species. We propose that pleiotropy might facilitate diversification by impacting several adaptive traits simultaneously.

Inventario preliminar de insectos acuáticos en la provincia de San Juan, Argentina: distribución y ecología

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Feb 2022

Fátima Romero

Se brinda un inventario preliminar de los insectos acuáticos de la Provincia de San Juan (Argentina) realizado en base a colecciones propias y registros bibliográficos previos de especies pertenecientes a los órdenes Plecoptera, Ephemeroptera,Trichoptera, Odonata, Hemiptera, Coleoptera,Lepidoptera y Diptera. Nuestro objetivo fue conseguir una lista y distribución de los insectos acuáticos de una provincia con escasa información sobre el tema. Para ello se relevaron diversos tipos de ambientes principalmente de ríos en 28 localidades y se incluyeron además 12 localidades a partir de los registros bibliográficos.Se registraron en total 46 familias de insectos, 107 géneros y 148 especies,de los cuales 22 familias, 65 géneros y 82 especies son nuevos registros, también se indican 17 localidades nuevas para algunas especies. De los taxones registrados el 90% de los géneros corresponden a grupos de distribución Neotropical, 6% Cosmopolita y Americana, mientras que solo el 4% de las especies presentan una distribución Andina.

A new species of the small water strider genus Microvelia (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Veliidae) from the Ryukyus, Japan, with notes on the distribution of M. kyushuensis

Article

Jun 2024

A new species of the small water strider genus Microvelia Westwood, 1834, M. minsa sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Veliidae), is described from the Yaeyama Islands of the Ryukyus, Japan. It belongs to the subgenus Pacificovelia Andersen & Weir, 2003. This new species has long been confused with M. kyushuensis Esaki & Miyamoto, 1955, in Japan, but is distinguished from the latter by a larger and more slender body approximately 2.5 times as long as its maximum width, a pair of square gray to grayish-blue markings on abdominal mediotergites II, III, and V, and the male right paramere evenly curved with the apical half twisted.

Checklist of the aquatic and semiaquatic bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerromorpha, Leptopodomorpha & Nepomorpha) of Peru

Article

Jun 2024

The Peruvian fauna of aquatic and semiaquatic bugs comprises 233 species, representing 70 genera, 15 tribes, 29 subfamilies, and 16 families. Many of these species (22%) are endemic to the country, while 49% occur in Peru and other South American countries, 21% are found throughout the Neotropics, and 8% are widely distributed in the Americas. These proportions are similar among the three infraorders treated here. There is a slight predominance of Gerromorpha (48%) over Nepomorpha (46%) in Peru, and both are much more speciose than Leptopodomorpha (6%). The same Gerromorpha predominance also occurs in Colombia and Ecuador, whereas Nepomorpha is richer than Gerromorpha in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. Within Peru, 92% of the species of aquatic and semiaquatic bugs have been recorded from the Atlantic slope, 16% occur in the Pacific slope, and only 2% in the Titicaca slope.

Belostomatidae Leach, 1815 (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Nepomorpha) of northeastern Brazil

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Full-text available

May 2024

Belostomatidae Leach, 1815 (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Nepomorpha), also known as giant water bugs, is a family with 11 genera and about 160 described species, most of which are recorded from the Neotropical region. Knowledge about these bugs in northeastern Brazil is relatively poor, with 16 previously recorded species. Here, we present new records for five additional species based on material from the states of Ceará, Maranhão, and Piauí deposited in the Coleção Zoológica do Maranhão, Caxias, Brazil. This increases to 21 the number of species recorded from the region. In addition, we provide photographs, distribution maps, and a key to the fauna of Belostomatidae from northeastern Brazil.

Checklist and distribution of Nepomorpha (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from China

Article

Feb 2024

An updated catalog of the infraorder Nepomorpha from China is provided based on literature reports, museum specimens, and field collections. In total, 214 species of Nepomorpha are listed in 6 superfamilies, 11 families, and 37 genera, including: Aphelocheiridae (1 genus, 27 species), Belostomatidae (3 genera, 7 species), Corixidae (9 genera, 52 species), Gelastocoridae (1 genus, 3 species), Helotrephidae (5 genera, 25 species), Micronectidae (1 genus, 28 species), Naucoridae (7 genera, 12 species), Nepidae (5 genera, 21 species), Notonectidae (4 genera, 32 species), Ochteridae (1 genus, 2 species) and Pleidae (1 genus, 5 species). Paraplea liturata (Fieber, 1844) is reported from mainland China for the first time. Distribution maps are provided for most species and are based on museum specimens and our field collections.

Descriptions of new species and new records of water bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerromorpha & Nepomorpha) from southeastern Brazil

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Full-text available

Dec 2023

Although most of the diversity of true bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) is terrestrial, over 550 species of water bugs (Heteroptera: Gerromorpha, Leptopodomorpha & Nepomorpha) have been recorded from Brazil alone. Southeastern Brazil, composed of the states of Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, is the best studied region of the country, but there are still knowledge gaps in the area. Here, two new species are described from Espírito Santo: Hydrometra ruschii Cordeiro, Rodrigues & Moreira, sp. nov. and H. tuberculata Cordeiro, Rodrigues & Moreira, sp. nov. (Gerromorpha: Hydrometridae). Furthermore, new records from southeastern Brazil are provided for 78 species of water bugs, of which 19 are firstly recorded from Espírito Santo, four from Minas Gerais, eight from Rio de Janeiro, and seven from São Paulo.

Order Hemiptera

Chapter

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Oct 2023

Fabio Cianferoni

Dichotomous keys up to the subgenus level are provided for the aquatic Hemiptera Heteroptera belonging to the infraorders Gerromorpha (semiaquatic bugs) and Nepomorpha (water bugs) occurring in Mediterranean Basin. The keys are valid for adult specimens. General information about the ecology, distribution, identification, preparation, and preservation of these insects is also provided.

CAVE OF BRAZIL_Hemiptera:Heteroptera

Chapter

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Nov 2023

Pelocoris Stl, 1876 of northeastern Brazil (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Naucoridae): first records and a key to the species

Article

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Nov 2023
ZOOTAXA

Naucoridae is a family of aquatic bugs, distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and comprises 437 species, 47 genera, and eight subfamilies. Five subfamilies, 10 genera and 68 species have been recorded from Brazil. Pelocoris Stål is a genus exclusive to the New World, with 14 species described; eight species and two subspecies have been recorded from Brazil. For the northeastern region, there are no records of occurrence for any species in this genus. The objective of this work was to survey the fauna of Pelocoris in the northeastern region and map the distribution of the species. We examined 180 specimens belonging to six species: Pelocoris binotulatus nigriculus Berg, 1879, P. bipunctulus (Herrich-Schäffer, 1853), P. magister Montandon, 1898, P. poeyi (Guérin-Méneville, 1835), P. politus Montandon, 1897, and P. subflavus Montandon, 1898. This work contributes directly to reducing the Wallacean and Linnean gaps in Naucoridae diversity for northeastern Brazil and highlights the diversity in the region, which is still poorly studied and poorly known.

Insects as bioindicator: A hidden gem for environmental monitoring

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2023

Environmental contamination research has been quite interesting in bioindicators recently. The basic objective of bioindicator research is to find species that can reliably detect environmental disturbances and demonstrate how those disturbances affect other species or biodiversity as a whole. Since they frequently come into contact with the harmful substances found in soil, water, and air, insects are particularly valuable for evaluating how human activities affect the terrestrial ecosystem, the aquatic system, and the atmosphere. In this review article, we’ve emphasized the use of insects as a resource for assessing contaminants and monitoring environmental contamination. Insects have been our main focus since they are key indicators of changes in soil, water, and air quality. The majority of insects, including beetles, ants, honey bees, and butterflies are employed in this study as biological indicators since they are sensitive to even the slightest environmental changes and are also used to monitor different environmental toxins.

Water bugs (Heteroptera: Gerromorpha, Nepomorpha) of the Caucasus ecoregion

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Feb 2023

The Caucasian fauna of water bugs (Heteroptera: Gerromorpha, Nepomorpha) is reviewed based on data originating from literature survey, museum and private collections, and extensive field sampling. The diversity of Caucasus ecoregion is quite significant with 77 species and subspecies framed within 25 genera (17 in Nepomorpha, 8 in Gerromorpha), and 13 families (8 in Nepomorpha, 5 in Gerromorpha). Micronecta anatolica anatolica Lindberg, 1922, Sigara iranica Lindberg, 1964, S. samani tigranes Jansson, 1986, Velia kiritshenkoi Tamanini, 1958, and Gerris asper (Fieber, 1860) are reported for the first time from Georgia, M. anatolica anatolica, Notonecta maculata Fabricius, 1794, Mesovelia thermalis Horváth, 1915, and Gerris lacustris (Linnaeus, 1758) represent new records for Armenia, and Microvelia macani Brown, 1953 is new for Azerbaijan. A chorological and similarity analysis highlighted the connections with and between adjacent countries, with Caucasus ecoregion having the highest similarity of the water bug fauna with Turkey, whereas Iran and Russia (European territory) have the lowest. The largest number of shared species/subspecies was found between the Caucasus and Turkey (64 taxa), while the lowest was between Iran and Russia (40 taxa). Our results indicate that the Caucasus represents a composite of various faunal elements of different origin, ranging from Caucasian endemics to Afrotropico-Indo-Mediterranean and Holarctic.

Sexual selection and predation drive the repeated evolution of stridulation in Heteroptera and other arthropods

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Feb 2023

Acoustic and substrate-borne vibrations are among themost widely used signalling modalities in animals. Arthropods display a staggering diversity of vibroacoustic organs generating acoustic sound and/or substrate-borne vibrations, and are fundamental to our broader understanding of the evolution of animal signalling. The primary mechanism that arthropods use to generate vibroacoustic signals is stridulation, which involves the rubbing together of opposing body parts. Although stridulation is common, its behavioural context and evolutionary drivers are often hard to pinpoint, owing to limited synthesis of empirical observations on stridulatory species. This is exacerbated by the diversity of mechanisms involved and the sparsity of their description in the literature, which renders their documentation a challenging task. Here, we present the most comprehensive review to date on the systematic distribution and behavioural context of stridulation. We use the megadiverse heteropteran insects as a model, together with multiple arthropod outgroups (arachnids, myriapods, and selected pancrustaceans). We find that stridulatory vibroacoustic signalling has evolved independently at least 84 times and is present in roughly 20%of Heteroptera, representing a remarkable case of convergent evolution. By studying the behavioural context of stridulation across Heteroptera and 189 outgroup lineages, we find that predation pressure and sexual selection are the main behaviours associated with stridulation across arthropods, adding further evidence for their role as drivers of large-scale signalling andmorphological innovation in animals. Remarkably, the absence of tympanal ears in most Heteroptera suggests that they typically cannot detect the acoustic component of their stridulatory signals. This demonstrates that the adoption of new signalling modalities is not always correlated with the ability to perceive those signals, especially when these signals are directed towards interspecific receivers in defensive contexts. Furthermore, by mapping their morphology and systematic distribution, we show that stridulatory organs tend to evolve in specific body parts, likely originating from cleaning motions and pre-copulatory displays that are common to most arthropods. By synthesising our understanding of stridulation and stridulatory organs across major arthropod groups, we create the necessary framework for future studies to explore their systematic and behavioural significance, their potential role in sensory evolution and innovation, and the biomechanics of this mode of signalling.

Fauna and identification key for the water boatmen (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Corixidae) in Mazandaran and Golestan provinces

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2023

In order to investigate on fauna of Corixidae family in Mazandaran and Golestan provinces, specimens were collected randomly by sweeping net and light trap in various freshwater habitats ranging from lakes, rivers, streams, paddy fields, and irrigation channels during 2021-2022. The specimens were identified using valid taxonomic identification keys. In this study, totally, six species were collected and identified. Species which are reported for the first time from Mazandaran and Golestan provinces are marked by an asterisk. Identified species are listed as follows: Corixa affinis Leach, 1817, Corixa punctata (Illiger, 1807)*, Hesperocorixa linnaei (Fieber, 1848)*, Sigara nigrolineata nigrolineata (Fieber, 1848)*, Sigara striata (Linnaeus, 1758) *, Sigara lateralis (Leach, 1817) An identification key was also provided for genera and species reported from these provinces.

A new species of Pseudovelia Hoberlandt, 1950 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Veliidae) from Honshu, Japan

Article

Feb 2023
ZOOTAXA

The genus Pseudovelia occurs at the margins of freshwater bodies and is widely distributed in the Palearctic and Oriental regions. It is represented by 29 species in the East and Southeast Asian mainland, of which five are known from Japan. Described here is Pseudovelia lasiomma sp. nov. from Lake Biwa, Honshu, Japan. In addition, a key is provided to facilitate the identification of the six species of Pseudovelia now known from Japan.

Phylogeny and historical biogeography of the water boatmen (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Nepomorpha: Corixoidea)

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2022
MOL PHYLOGENET EVOL

The water boatmen of Corixoidea, a group of aquatic bugs with more than 600 extant species, is one of the largest superfamilies of Nepomorpha. Contrary to the other nepomorphan lineages, the Corixoidea are most diverse in the Laurasian remnant Holarctic region. To explicitly test whether the present-day Holarctic distribution of diverse corixids is associated with the arising of the Laurasian landmass that was separated from Gondwana, we investigated the phylogeny, divergence times and historical biogeography of Corixoidea based on morphological and molecular characters sampled from 122 taxa representing all families, subfamilies, tribes and approximately 54% of the genera. Our results were largely congruent with the phylogenetic relationships within the established nepomorphan phylogenetic context. The fossil calibrated chronogram, diversification analysis and ancestral ranges reconstruction indicated that Corixoidea began to diversify in Gondwana in the late Triassic approximately at 224 Ma and the arising of the most diverse subfamily Corixinae in Corixidae in the Holarctic region was largely congruent with the time of separation of Laurasia from Gondwana. The large-scale expansion of the temperate and cold zones on the northward-moving Laurasian landmass after the breakup of the Pangea provided new aquatic niches and ecological opportunities for promoting rapid diversification for the Holarctic corixid lineage.

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

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Full-text available

Nov 2022

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 19th and early 20th centuries. As a result of material recently collected in the territory, the descriptions of Rhagovelia depressa Rodrigues, Khila & Moreira, sp. nov., R. tantilloides Rodrigues, Khila & Moreira, sp. nov. and Steinovelia vittata Rodrigues, Khila & Moreira, sp. nov. (Veliidae) are presented here. New records for 28 species are also provided, of which Cylindrostethus hungerfordi Drake & Harris, 1934, Neogerris magnus (Kuitert, 1942), Rheumatobates mangrovensis (China, 1943), R. trinitatis (China, 1943), Ovatametra obesa Kenaga, 1942, Telmatometra fusca Kenaga, 1941, T. parva Kenaga, 1941 (Gerridae), Mesovelia amoena Uhler, 1894 (Mesoveliidae), Rhagovelia brunae Magalhães & Moreira, 2016, R. elegans Uhler, 1894, R. ephydros (Drake & Van Doesburg, 1966), R. equatoria D. Polhemus, 1997, R. evidis Bacon, 1948, R. guianana D. Polhemus, 1997, R. tenuipes Champion, 1898, Oiovelia cunucunumana (Drake & Maldonado-Capriles, 1952), Stridulivelia alia (Drake, 1957), S. stridulata (Hungerford, 1929), and S. tersa (Drake & Harris, 1941) (Veliidae) are reported from French Guiana for the first time.

Fauna cavernícola do Brasil: Hemiptera:Heteroptera.

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Oct 2022

Transcriptome-based Phylogeny of the Semi-aquatic Bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerromorpha) Reveals Patterns of Lineage Expansion in a Series of New Adaptive Zones

Article

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Oct 2022

Key innovations enable access to new adaptive zones and are often linked to increased species diversification. As such, innovations have attracted much attention, yet their concrete consequences on the subsequent evolutionary trajectory and diversification of the bearing lineages remain unclear. Water striders and relatives (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerromorpha) represent a monophyletic lineage of insects that transitioned to live on the water-air interface and that diversified to occupy ponds, puddles, streams, mangroves and even oceans. This lineage offers an excellent model to study the patterns and processes underlying species diversification following the conquest of new adaptive zones. However, such studies require a reliable and comprehensive phylogeny of the infraorder. Based on whole transcriptomic datasets of 97 species and fossil records, we reconstructed a new phylogeny of the Gerromorpha that resolved inconsistencies and uncovered strong support for previously unknown relationships between some important taxa. We then used this phylogeny to reconstruct the ancestral state of a set of adaptations associated with water surface invasion (fluid locomotion, dispersal and transition to saline waters) and sexual dimorphism. Our results uncovered important patterns and dynamics of phenotypic evolution, revealing how the initial event of water surface invasion enabled multiple subsequent transitions to new adaptive zones on the water surfaces. This phylogeny and the associated transcriptomic datasets constitute highly valuable resources, making Gerromorpha an attractive model lineage to study phenotypic evolution.

Genetic variation of the giant water bug Lethocerus indicus (Lepeletier and Serville, 1825) (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) collected from natural habitats in northeastern Thailand

Article

Mar 2022
AQUAT INSECT

The giant water bug, Lethocerus indicus (Lepeletier and Serville, 1825 Lepeletier, A.L.M., and Serville, J.G.A. (1825), ‘Belostoma Section’, in Encyclopédie Méthodique. Histoire Naturelle Des Animaux Volumes 10. Paris: Chez Panckoucke, Imprimeur-Libraire, pp. 271–273. [Google Scholar]), is one of the most important edible insects in Thailand. This study investigated the genetic diversity of L. indicus from natural resources in northeast Thailand by using mitochondrial DNA sequences. Ninety adults of L. indicus were collected from 12 different localities by light trap and hand-net methods. Nucleotide and haplotype diversity of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) sequences were relatively high. The 43 CO1 haplotypes (Li1–Li43) with 26 unique haplotypes were classified and used to generate a star-like haplotype network. The most common haplotypes were Li6 and Li2 shared between 19 and 15 sequences, respectively from nine different localities. A phylogenetic tree clearly separated L. indicus from the other species and closely clustered with a sibling species, L. patruelis (Stål, 1854 Stål, C. (1854), ‘Nya Hemiptera’, in Öfversigt af Kongliga Vetenskaps-Akademiens Förhandlingar Volume arg. 10. Stockholm: P.A. Norstedt & Söner, pp. 231–255. [Google Scholar]). However, the comprehensive genetic variation of L. indicus covering broad range of areas needs to be further explored.

NEW RECORS OF AQUATIC AND SEMI-AQUATIC BUGS (HETEROPTERA: NEPOMORPHA, GERROMORPHA) FROM MONGOLIA

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2023

Alexandr Prokin

New distributional records for 17 species of aquatic and semi-aquatic bugs are provided from Mongolia: two species recorded for the first time for the country, Corixidae: Sigara (Sigara) striata (Linnaeus, 1758) and Gerridae: Aquarius paludum paludum (Fabricius, 1794). For 15 species, new province records are listed: Nepidae (1), Notonectidae (3), Corixidae (7), Veliidae (1) and Gerridae (3).

The True Bugs of the World (Hemiptera: Heteroptera). Classification and Natural History

Article

Full-text available

Jul 1996
ANN ENTOMOL SOC AM

David Rider

Aquatic Heteroptera in New Guinea Assembling New Guinea: 40 million years of island arc accretion as indicated by the distributions of aquatic Heteroptera (Insecta)

Article

Full-text available

Jan 1998

The island of New Guinea consists of the northern margin of the Australian continental craton that has collided over the past 40 million years with a series of migrating island arcs. Each of these arcs has had a separate tectonic history and carried a correspondingly different biota. Recent faunal surveys and phylogenetic analyses, coupled with evolving tectonic knowledge, are now allowing us to identify ele-ments within the New Guinea aquatic Heteroptera biota that may be correlated with particular accreted arc systems. It appears that many Asian-derived groups arrived via a Papuan arc that collided obliquely with the northern margin of Australia between the Late Eocene and Early Oligocene, while other distinctively Melanesian groups evolved on an isolated Solomons arc that was initiated in the Oligocene and accreted terranes to northeastern New Guinea from the Miocene into the Pliocene. This gradually improving under-standing of the islands interrelated tectonic and biotic his-tory is permitting a better comprehension of the complex patterns of faunal fusion and disjunction currently present within the Melanesian region.

Recent changes in the Dutch Heteroptera fauna (Insecta: Hemiptera)

Conference Paper

Full-text available

Jan 2003

Berend Aukema

Recent changes in the Dutch Heteroptera fauna (Insecta: Hemiptera) At present 610 species of Heteroptera are recorded from the Netherlands. The database of the Dutch bureau of the European Invertebrate Survey currently includes about 130 000 Dutch records (combinations of locality and species). The records, however, are strongly biased towards aquatic and semiaquatic species (72 761 records of 64 species = 1137 records/species) in comparison with terrestrial species (55 375 records of 545 species = 101 records/species). Although since about 1850 there have always been Dutch heteropterists, collecting efforts show large differences in time and place and it is for instance easy to locate both residences and favourite holiday resorts of heteropterists from the distribution maps. Local faunas are not static but dynamic and changes in the Dutch Heteroptera fauna were analysed for the period since 1960 and especially before and since 1980. A number of 571 species (93.6% of the Dutch species listed) have been recorded since 1960 and 510 of these (83.6%) have been recorded regularly since 1960 and are considered ‘resident species’. The changes documented for the period 1980-2002 concern 61 species: 27 new arrivals, 27 species rediscovered after not having been recorded in the period 1960-1980, and 7 species not recorded since 1980. From these data it is concluded that the turnover of species since 1980 (61 of 571 species) has been 10.7%. New arrivals (27) outnumber the extinctions (seven). Turnover of species of local faunas is considered a natural process (species come and go continuously), but it is also clear that habitat changes, international trade and global warming have contributed largely to the observed changes in the Dutch fauna. At least four of the 27 new arrivals are linked to international transport of plant material and the majority of the new arrivals are supposed to benefit from global warming.

Phylogeny of the true water bugs (Nepomorpha: Hemiptera-Heteroptera) based on 16S and 28S rDNA and morphology

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2004
SYST ENTOMOL

Morphological characters and molecular sequence data were for the first time analysed separately and combined for the true water bugs (Hemiptera–Heteroptera, infraorder Nepomorpha). Data from forty species representing all families were included, together with two outgroup species representing the infraorders Gerromorpha and Leptopodomorpha. The morphological data matrix consisted of sixty-five characters obtained from literature sources. Molecular data included approximately 960 bp from the mitochondrial gene 16S and the nuclear gene 28S for all forty-two terminal taxa. The morphological dataset was analysed using maximum parsimony and the combined morphological and molecular (16S + 28S rDNA) dataset was analysed using direct optimization. A sensitivity analysis of sixteen different sets of parameters (various combinations of insertion–deletion cost and transversion costs) was undertaken. Character congruence was used as an optimality criterion to choose among competing phylogenetic hypotheses. The final hypothesis was obtained from the analysis of the combined molecular and mor phological dataset with the most congruent parameter set. This hypothesis supports the monophyly of all currently recognized families of Nepomorpha, and of the superfamilies Nepoidea (Nepidae + Belostomatidae), Corixoidea (Corixidae), Ochteroidea Ochteridae + Gelastocoridae), Notonectoidea (Notonectidae), and Pleoidea (Pleidae + Helotrephidae), but not the monophyly of the Naucoroidea (Naucoridae + Aphelocheiridae + Potamocoridae). The close relationship between the Notonectidae and Pleoidea is also supported. Our hypothesis concurs with Mahner in the placement of the Corixidae as a sister group to the remaining nepomorphan superfamilies except the Nepoidea, but differs in the placement of the Ochteroidea as a sister group to the Notonectoidea + Pleoidea. The superfamily Naucoroidea should be limited to only including the family Naucoridae and not the families Aphelocheiridae and Potamocoridae. The present analysis strongly supports a sister group relationship between the families Aphelocheiridae and Potamocoridae, a monophylum for which we propose a new superfamily, Aphelocheiroidea.

Insect behaviour: Reversal of sex roles in nuptial feeding

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2003
NATURE

Males of many animals provide females with 'nuptial gifts', such as prey items or glandular secretions, during courtship and mating. Traditionally, nuptial feeding is viewed as a form of paternal investment in offspring. Although other explanations have been proposed, the focus remains gender-specific, with a male donor and female recipient. Here we show that females of the extraordinary insect Phoreticovelia disparata provide food for males during mating. This previously undescribed reversal of gender roles indicates that nuptial feeding might not be related to paternal investment.

Australian Water Bugs. (Hemiptera - Heteroptera, Gerromorpha & Nepomorpha): Their Biology and Identification

Book

Jan 2004

Catalog of the Heteroptera or True Bugs, of Canada and the Continental United States

Book

Jul 2019

Thomas Henry

Micronectae (Heteroptera, Corixidae) as indicators of water quality in two lakes in southern Finland

Article

Jan 1977

A. Jansson

In the southwestern part of Nasijarvi and in Vesijarvi the water quality varies widely because industrial wastes and sewage cause pollution and eutrophication. In Nasijarvi the distribution of Micronectae was clearly correlated with water quality, but in Vesijarvi, which is fed mostly by ground-waters, the situation was more complicated. The study supports the previous suggestion that in Finland M. griseola favours eutrophic, M. minutissima somewhat eutrophic, and M. poweri oligotrophic waters. M. minutissima seemed to be the species best able to tolerate industrial pollution. A semiquantitative standard sweep sampling method revealed that in areas influenced by pollution the numbers of Micronectae were always small. In waters throughout the range from oligotrophic to eutrophic there were wide fluctuations in the numbers of specimens, but differences between the average catches were surprisingly small, although the species composition changed completely.

North american Mesozoic aquatic Heteroptera (Insecta, Naucoroidea, Nepoidea) from the Toldito Formation, New Mexico

Article

Jan 2000

J.T. Polhemus

Two new genera and thirty new species of Microveliinae (Heteroptera: Veliidae) from the East Papua Composite Terrane, far eastern New Guinea

Article

Jan 2004

Two new genera and 30 new species of Microveliinae are described from the East Papua Composite Terrane of far eastern New Guinea. This geologically defined region, including the Papuan Peninsula and the D'Entrecasteaux, Louisiade, and Marshall Bennett island groups, is hypothesized by geologists to have formed as a discrete microcontinent in the early Tertiary before being sutured to greater New Guinea in the Miocene, and retains a highly endemic aquatic Heteroptera biota. The new taxa described from this area are as follows: Rheovelia gen. n. containing type species R. petrophila sp. n. from extreme southeastern New Guinea, R. robinae sp. n. from the D'Entrecasteaux Islands, R. insularis sp. n. from Tagula and Rossel islands, R. anomala sp. n. from Misima Island, R. truncata sp. n. from the Owen Stanley Range of southeastern New Guinea, R. asymmetrica sp. n. from the Owen Stanley Range of southeastern New Guinea, R. basilaki sp. n. from Basilaki Island, and R. fonticola sp. n. from the Cape Nelson Peninsula of southeastern New Guinea; Brechivelia gen. n. containing type species B. tufi sp. n. from the Cape Nelson Peninsula of southeastern New Guinea; Tanyvelia minima sp. n. from extreme southeastern New Guinea; T. tagulana sp. n. from Tagula Island; T. papuana sp. n. from the Owen Stanley Range of southeastern New Guinea; Aegilipsicola peninsularis sp. n. from extreme southeastern New Guinea; A. auga sp. n. from the Owen Stanley Range of southeastern New Guinea; Tarsovelia louisiadensis sp. n. from Misima and Tagula islands; Neusterensifer sagarai sp. n. from extreme southeastern New Guinea; N. femoralis sp. n. from extreme southeastern New Guinea plus Normanby, Sariba and Basilaki islands; N. hunteri sp. n. from southeastern New Guinea plus Normanby, Sariba, Sideia, and Basilaki Islands; N. kula sp. n. from Goodenough and Fergusson islands; N. dentrecasteaux sp. n. from Goodenough and Fergusson islands plus the Cape Nelson Peninsula of southeastern New Guinea; N. louisiadae sp. n. from Tagula and Rossel islands; N. yela sp. n. from Rossel Island; N. sulcata sp. n. from Tagula Island; N. misima sp. n. from Misima Island; N. muyuw sp. n. from Woodlark Island; N. aviavi sp. n. from the Lakekamu Basin of southeastern New Guinea; N. microrivula sp. n. from the Lakekamu Basin of southeastern New Guinea; N. bowutu sp. n. from the Bowutu Mountains of southeastern New Guinea; N. goilala sp. n. from the Owen Stanley Range of southeastern New Guinea; and N. tufisp. n. from the Cape Nelson Peninsula of southeastern New Guinea. Shaded dorsal habitus figures are provided for Rheovelia petrophila and Neusterensifer femoralis, and illustrations of diagnostic morphological characters are given for all new genera and species, accompanied by distribution maps. New distribution records are also provided for Tarsovelia alta J. Polhemus & D. Polhemus, and Neusterensifer lubu D. Polhemus & J. Polhemus. A revised key in provided for all genera of New Guinea Microveliinae, and new or revised keys to all species are provided for Rheovelia, Tanyvelia, Aegilipsicola and Tarsovelia; a regional key is also provided for the 16 species of Neusterensifer occurring in the Papuan Peninsula and adjacent island groups.

The Origin and Evolution of Pacific Island Biotas, New Guinea to Eastern Polynesia: Patterns and Processes

Article

Aug 1997

Systema Cryptoceratorum Phylogeneticum (Insecta, Heteroptera)

Article

Jan 1993
Zoologica

M. Mahner

The Semiaquatic Bugs (Hemiptera, Gerromorpha) Phylogeny, Adaptations, Biogeography and Classification.

Article

Dec 1983
Syst Zool

Global trends in the description of aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera species, 1758-2004

Article

Jan 2007

Species description trends for the 4782 species of aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera (Gerromorpha, Nepomorpha, and Leptopodomorpha) named during the 246 year interval from 1758 through 2004 are analyzed in regard to number of species descriptions per year and cumulative number of species. These data are graphed both on a world basis, and for seven major zoogeographic regions (Palearctic, Nearctic, Neotropical, Afrotropical, Oriental, Australian and Pacific). This analysis reveals that our taxonomic knowledge of aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera, as measured by species descriptions, has accumulated at a progressively faster rate over time when assessed on a world basis, albeit in an episodic and uneven fashion, with peaks of high activity interspersed with periods of relatively low output. When examined at the level of individual zoogeographic regions, the accumulation of taxonomic descriptions is seen to be pronouncedly episodic, and contingent upon the productivity of particular regional experts during the courses of their careers, with just ten authors accounting for over 40 percent of all currently accepted species descriptions. Species accumulation curves, based on published descriptions, indicate that description of extant aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera species is nearly complete for the Palearctic and Nearctic regions, and well advanced for the Neotropical region. The Oriental and Australian (including New Guinea) regions show continuing sharp upward trends, indicating that these regions are still far from completely documented. The flattening of the description accumulation curves in the Afrotropical and Pacific regions is interpreted to be an artifact produced by a relative paucity of recent taxonomic work in these regions, and thus not truly indicative of well documented biotas in these areas. Rates of species description in aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera were highest immediately after World War II, a level of productivity that has been approached once again in recent decades. If the current average rate of 51 species descriptions per year can be maintained, the estimated 1100 species of aquatic Heteroptera remaining undescribed on a global basis will be formally named within the next 25 years, basically completing the taxonomic documentation of this group.

Biodiversity Hotspots and Major Tropical Wilderness Areas: Approaches to Setting Conservation Priorities

Article

Jun 1998
CONSERV BIOL

The Trepobatinae (Gerridae) of New Guinea and surrounding regions, with a review of the world fauna. Part 6. Phylogeny, biogeography, world checklist, bibliography and final taxonomic addenda

Article

Jan 2002

The small waterstriders of the subfamily Trepobatinae have radiated extensively on New Guinea and surrounding archipelagos. The present contribution is the sixth in a series of reports dealing with this endemic fauna, and presents a cladistic analysis at the generic level for the subfamily, a biogeographic analysis, a world checklist, a complete bibliography, and final taxonomic addenda. The taxonomic appendix contains new distributional records for Stygiobates mubi Polhemus & Polhemus, and descriptions of the following new taxa: the new genus Talaudia to hold the previously described Andersenella nilsi Chen & Nieser from the Talaud Archipelago; Metrobatoides bifurcatus sp. n. from northern central Irian Jaya; and Iobates ivimka sp. n. from southern Papua New Guinea. The current cladistic analysis supports the previously proposed tribal classification, with the Metrobatini, Trepobatini, Naboandelini, and Stenobatini all resolved as discrete monophyletic groups. Our cladistic and biogeographic analyses also suggest that the current distribution of trepobatine genera in the New Guinea region has been strongly influenced by past tectonic events, most notably the accretion of island arc terranes derived from the Solomons and Halmahera arc systems. This has led to distinct areas of freshwater and marine endemism among the Metrobatini and Stenobatini in the areas surrounding Halmahera, the Vogelkop Peninsula, and northeastern New Guinea plus nearby islands. By contrast, the distribution of Naboandelini in the New Guinea region suggests a vicariance pattern with Australia across the Torres Strait.

The Semiaquatic Bugs (Hemiptera, Gerromorpha) Phylogeny, Adaptations, Biogeography and Classification

Article

Jan 1982

N Moller Andersen

Incluye bibliografía e índice

Conservation of Aquatic Insects: Worldwide Crisis or Localized Threats?

Article

Dec 1993

Dan A. Polhemus

An overview is presented on the current worldwide status of aquatic insect conservation. Despite extensive habitat destruction or modification, aquatic insects as a whole do not appear to have suffered as great a proportional loss of species over the last century as members of other groups. In North America, for example, only 204 species are considered at risk out of a total fauna of over 10,000 species, and no species has been documented as having gone extinct. Even so, aquatic insect diversity is subject to a broad spectrum of threats, including chemical pollution of waters from industry and agriculture, physical destruction of habitat from impoundments or drainage, and introduction of alien aquatic biota, primarily sport or aquarium fishes. Adequate legislation exists in the United States and Europe to provide protection to aquatic insect taxa at risk, but the implementation of this legislation is often hampered by a lack of taxonomic and distributional knowledge, and by a concentration of recovery efforts on more highly visible vertebrate taxa. The case of the Ash Meadows Naucorid, the only aquatic species currently protected under the Endangered Species Act, is examined in detail. It is concluded that the listing of this species has had no discernable effect in halting its population decline, partly due to the fact that recovery efforts for endangered fishes have proven deleterious to the insect. It is recommended that future listing efforts be conducted in the context of national biological surveys, and that an ecosystem rather than single species approach be applied to aquatic conservation efforts.

Analysis of Taxonomic Congruence Among Morphological, Ecological, and Biogeographic Data Sets for the Leptopodomorpha (Hemiptera)

Article

Mar 1980
Syst Zool

A data set of 47 morphological characters derived from the literature and original observation is prepared for the Leptopodomorpha. An argument is presented for considering the Leptopodomorpha as a monophyletic group and the Nepomorpha as its sister group. The data set is analyzed by cladistic (Wagner) and phenetic (UPGMA) methods in an effort to arrive at a most natural classification. Predictivity and stability are measured by comparing classifications based on a complete and partial taxon set as well as a random bipartition of the character set. Cladistic analysis produces more stable and predictive classifications with greater consensus and component information. The minimum length Wagner tree has greater information content than the UPGMA phenogram by virtue of its higher cophenetic correlation coefficient and its more parsimonious description of the character data. The Wagner tree is compared with four existing classifications for the Leptopodomorpha in the form of networks and trees. One of the published schemes is represented by the same network as the most parsimonious tree, but contains additional homoplasies as a rooted tree. The remaining published schemes are represented by different networks and describe the data less accurately (in more steps) than the most parsimonious tree. Wagner, UPGMA, and published results are examined for congruence with available ecological and distributional data. The minimum length Wagner tree and a published scheme of Polhemus show maximum congruence. A classification isomorphic with the Wagner tree is proposed as the one which should be used for future studies in the Leptopodomorpha. Objective criteria for evaluating classifications and properties of cladistic and phenetic methods are discussed.

Freshwater biotas of New Guinea and nearby islands: Analysis of endemism, richness and threats. Pacific Biological Survey Contribution 2004-004: 1–68 for Conservation Interna-tional An ecosystem classification of inland waters for the tropical Pacific

Jan 1992
155-173

D A Polhemus
R A Englund
G Allen

Polhemus, D. A., R. A. Englund & G. Allen, 2004. Freshwater biotas of New Guinea and nearby islands: Analysis of endemism, richness and threats. Pacific Biological Survey Contribution 2004-004: 1–68 for Conservation Interna-tional, Washington, DC. Polhemus, D. A., J. Maciolek & J. Ford, 1992. An ecosystem classification of inland waters for the tropical Pacific. Micronesica 25: 155–173.

Assembling New Guinea: 40 million years of island arc accretion as indi-cated by the distributions of aquatic Heteroptera (Insecta) (pp. 327–340) Bio-geography and Geological Evolution of SE Asia Basins and Ranges: The Biogeography of Aquatic True Bugs in the Great Basin

Jan 1998
235-254

D A Polhemus
J T Polhemus

Polhemus, D. A. & J. T. Polhemus, 1998. Assembling New Guinea: 40 million years of island arc accretion as indi-cated by the distributions of aquatic Heteroptera (Insecta) (pp. 327–340). In Hall, R. & J. D. Holloway (eds), Bio-geography and Geological Evolution of SE Asia. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, ii + 417 pp., 167 figs., 12 col. pls. Polhemus, D. A. & J. T. Polhemus, 2002. Basins and Ranges: The Biogeography of Aquatic True Bugs in the Great Basin, Vol. 33. Smithsonian Institution Contributions to the Earth Sciences, 235–254.

Catalog and bibliography of Leptopodomorpha (Heteroptera)

Jan 1987
243-406

R T Schuh
B Galil
J T Polhemus

Schuh, R. T., B. Galil & J. T. Polhemus, 1987. Catalog and bibliography of Leptopodomorpha (Heteroptera). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 185(3): 243– 406.

A World Overview and Taxonomy of Middle American Forms. The Different Drummer

Saldidae

Saldidae). A World Overview and Taxonomy of Middle American Forms. The Different Drummer, Englewood, Colorado, v + 252 pp.

Nepomorpha (N) species in individual biogeographic regions (see Table 2 for additional details on levels of family and genus level richness). PA, Palaearctic; NA, Nearctic; NT, Neotropical; AT, Afrotropical; OL, Oriental

Ant
Antarctic
Fig

ANT, Antarctic Fig. 3 Total richness of Leptopodomorpha (L), Gerromorpha (G), Nepomorpha (N) species in individual biogeographic regions (see Table 2 for additional details on levels of family and genus level richness). PA, Palaearctic; NA, Nearctic; NT, Neotropical; AT, Afrotropical; OL, Oriental; AU, Australasian;

Australian water bugs Their biology and identification (Hemiptera-Heteroptera, Gerromorpha & Nepomorpha) Entomonograph 14: 344 pp., 8 col. pls., text figs., maps Reversal of sex roles in nuptial feeding

Jan 2003
387

N M Andersen
T A Weir

Andersen, N. M. & T. A. Weir, 2004. Australian water bugs. Their biology and identification (Hemiptera-Heteroptera, Gerromorpha & Nepomorpha). Entomonograph 14: 344 pp., 8 col. pls., text figs., maps. Arnqvist, G., T. M. Jones & M. A. Elgar, 2003. Reversal of sex roles in nuptial feeding. Nature 424: 387.

Two Japanese Aphelocheirus species (Naucoridae), A. kawamurae presumably extinct and A. nawae still surviving in Hyogo Prefecture

Jan 1995
21-25

M Tomokuni
M Sato
N Ichikawa
Y Araki
S Nishu

Tomokuni, M., M. Sato, N. Ichikawa, Y. Araki & S. Nishu, 1995. Two Japanese Aphelocheirus species (Naucoridae), A. kawamurae presumably extinct and A. nawae still surviving in Hyogo Prefecture. Rostria 44: 21–25.

An ecosystem classification of inland waters for the tropical Pacific

Jan 1992
155-173

D A Polhemus
J Maciolek
J Ford

Polhemus, D. A., J. Maciolek & J. Ford, 1992. An ecosystem classification of inland waters for the tropical Pacific. Micronesica 25: 155–173.

Freshwater biotas of New Guinea and nearby islands: Analysis of endemism, richness and threats. Pacific Biological Survey Contribution 2004-004: 1–68 for Conservation International

Jan 2004

D A Polhemus
R A Englund
G Allen

Basins and Ranges: The Biogeography of Aquatic True Bugs in the Great Basin

D A J T Polhemus
Polhemus

Island arcs and their influence on Indo-Pacific biogeography

D A Polhemus

Polhemus, D. A., 1996. Island arcs and their influence on Indo-Pacific biogeography (pp. 51-66). In: Keast, A. & S. L. Miller (eds), The Origin and Evolution of Pacific Island Biotas, New Guinea to Eastern Polynesia: Patterns and Processes. SPB Publishing, Amsterdam, viii + 531 pp.

The marine Heteroptera of far eastern New Guinea and adjacent archiplelagoes (Insecta: Gerromorpha)

Jan 2006
927

J T D A Polhemus
Polhemus
J. T. Polhemus

Polhemus, J. T. & D. A. Polhemus, 2006. The marine Heteroptera of far eastern New Guinea and adjacent archiplelagoes (Insecta: Gerromorpha). Denisia 19: 927-982.

Jan 1995

R T J A Schuh
Slater

Schuh, R. T. & J. A. Slater, 1995. True Bugs of the World (Hemiptera: Heteroptera). Classification and Natural History. Cornell University Press, Ithaca and London, xii + 336 pp.

Shore Bugs (Heteroptera, Hemiptera; Saldidae). A World Overview and Taxonomy of Middle American Forms. The Different Drummer

J T Polhemus

Global diversity of true bugs (Heteroptera; Insecta) in freshwater

Abstract

No full-text available

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