Taxonomia de Veliidae (Heteroptera: Gerromorpha) no Estado do Maranhão, Brasil

Abstract

The family Veliidae (Heteroptera: Gerromorpha) comprises a group of semiaquatic insects distributed in freshwater environments, both lentic and lotic, especially in tropical and Neotropical regions. This insect family belongs to the infraorder Gerromorpha, which includes about 2,100 species distributed among eight families, of which only five are found in Brazil (Gerridae, Hebridae, Hydrometridae, Mesoveliidae, and Veliidae). These insects are characterized by their ability to move across the water surface due to specialized structures on their legs and tarsi. Additionally, they play ecological roles such as controlling small invertebrate populations and acting as bioindicators of water quality. The present study aimed to investigate and document the diversity of Veliidae insects in the state of Maranhão, Brazil. The material examined was collected between 2010 and 2023, covering different municipalities and aquatic environments, including protected areas. A total of 245 specimens were analyzed, distributed across six genera and 13 species. Identification was based on external and genital morphological characteristics examined under an entomological microscope, using dichotomous keys. As a result, Callivelia conata, Oiovelia cunucunumana, Oiovelia rivícola, Paravelia nexa, Paravelia rotundanotata e Stridulivelia strigosa were recorded for the first time in the state of Maranhão, significantly expanding their known geographical distributions. The genus Stridulivelia presented a higher number of species present in different habitats, clearly demonstrating its adaptive capacity. The data obtained show that the state of Maranhão has a high richness of Veliidae species and highlight the importance of further studies focused on underexplored areas and the relevance of taxonomy as a tool for the conservation of aquatic habitats.