Levantamento das famílias de Gerromorpha em ecossistemas aquáticos da Mesorregião Centro Maranhense

Abstract

The infraorder Gerromorpha belongs to the suborder Heteroptera (Hemiptera) and comprises aquatic and semi-aquatic insects adapted for locomotion on the water surface. Despite their ecological importance, there are still gaps in knowledge regarding the distribution of these organisms in the municipality of Bacabal, Maranhão. In this context, this study aimed to inventory the families of the infraorder Gerromorpha in lentic and lotic environments within the municipality of Bacabal, Maranhão. Sampling was conducted throughout 2025 in various aquatic environments, covering both diurnal and nocturnal periods. The collected biological material was processed at the Biological and Health Sciences Laboratory (LAMCBioS) of the State University of Maranhão, Bacabal Campus. Specimens were preserved in 80% ethyl alcohol and identified using a stereomicroscope and taxonomic keys specific to each group. A total of 253 individuals were recorded, distributed across four families (Gerridae, Hydrometridae, Mesoveliidae, and Veliidae) and ten genera. The family Gerridae exhibited the highest abundance of individuals, followed by Mesoveliidae, Veliidae, and Hydrometridae. These results expand knowledge regarding the taxonomic composition of Gerromorpha in Bacabal, Maranhão, and provide information that can support future studies on the distribution of these organisms in the region's aquatic environments.