Fauna trichoptera (insecta: hexapoda) da região central do estado do Maranhão

Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to initiate an inventory of the Trichoptera fauna in the central region of the state of Maranhão, specifically within the municipalities of Igarapé Grande and Paulo Ramos. Sampling was conducted between January and July 2026—during the rainy season—using Pennsylvania-style light traps and pan traps installed along the margins of water bodies. Collected specimens were preserved, sorted, and identified in the laboratory using a stereomicroscope and specialized taxonomic literature. Seven species belonging to three families—Hydroptilidae, Leptoceridae, and Polycentropodidae—were identified, thereby expanding knowledge regarding the group's richness in the state. Key findings include the first record of *Neotrichia bullata* in Brazil, as well as the extension of the known ranges of *Costatrichia hamulifera*, *Neotrichia caboca*, and *Neotrichia makunaima* into the Northeast Region, significantly broadening their geographical distributions. These results enhance understanding of Trichoptera diversity in Maranhão, while highlighting that the current data represent only a subset of the actual fauna and underscoring the need for more systematic inventories to support conservation efforts and taxonomic studies.