Aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera (Insecta: Hemiptera) from Iberá Natural Reserve (Corrientes Province, Argentina)

Abstract

An inventory of aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera (Insecta: Hemiptera) from Iber Natural Reserve (Corrientes Province, Argentina) is presented based on data from literature and the results of 10 expeditions to the region between 2003 and 2018. Different environments were surveyed at six ranger stations: Galarza, Itat, Laguna Iber, San Ignacio, San Nicols and Yahaver. In total, 69 species of Gerromorpha (23) and Nepomorpha (46) included in 29 genera (Gerromorpha, 13; Nepomorpha, 16) and 13 families (Gerromorpha, 5; Nepomorpha, 8) were recorded, representing 73% of the aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera fauna known from Corrientes Province. Gerridae was the richest family with regards to genera (6), followed by Veliidae (3), Belostomatidae (3), Naucoridae (3), and Notonectidae (3). However, with regards to species, Belostomatidae was the richest family (14 species), followed by Gerridae (10), Veliidae (8), Notonectidae (7), Naucoridae (6), Nepidae (6), Corixidae (4) and Micronectidae (4). The remaining 10 species belonged to Pleidae (3), Mesoveliidae (2), Hebridae (2), Gelastocoridae (2) and Hydrometridae (1). Five species are new for Argentina: Paravelia rotundanotata (Hungerford, 1930) (Veliidae), Steinovelia vinnula (Drake, 1951) (Veliidae), Neogerris celeris (Drake Harris, 1934) (Gerridae), Ovatametra obesa Kenaga, 1942 (Gerridae) and Curicta granulosa De Carlo, 1951 (Nepidae). Three genera (Paravelia Breddin, 1898; Brachymetra Mayr, 1865; Ovatametra Kenaga, 1942) are herein first recorded from Corrientes Province. Thirteen species are first recorded from Corrientes Province, raising to 94 the number of species of aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera recorded from the province. Twenty-eight species and six genera (Merragata White, 1877; Paravelia; Brachymetra; Halobatopsis Bianchi, 1896; Ovatametra; Rheumatobates Bergroth, 1892) are new for the Reserve. Geographic distributions and habitat associations of all species are presented. Our study highlights the importance of this Reserve for the protection of the aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera fauna and the habitats upon which they rely.