New records of semi-aquatic bugs (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Gerromorpha) from the South Region of Brazil
Semi-aquatic bug (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Gerromorpha) constitute a monophyletic group of predatory insects that play crucial roles in limnic environments. The Oriental and Neotropical regions harbor the richest faunas, but many species from these areas remain undescribed, and large regions are still poorly explored. In Brazil, semi-aquatic bugs have been more thoroughly sampled in the North and Southeast regions, while other regions have been neglected. The Southern Region of the country comprises the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul, from which 20, 44, and 28 species of Gerromorpha have been recorded, respectively. In total, 61 species are known from the region, which is likely far from being an accurate representation of the local fauna.Here, we present new state records of 24 species of Gerromorpha from the State of Paraná, nine from Santa Catarina and six from Rio Grande do Sul. Furthermore, of the 45 species that we studied, 36 are recorded for the first time from at least one of the three States. Our results also include one first record from Brazil and 14 from the South Region. Additionally, we identified and provide illustrations of a male of Mesovelia amoena Uhler, 1894, which is extremely rare in the Neotropics. Finally, the new data presented here increases the number of semi-aquatic bug species known from the South Region from 60 to 75.
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