Two new species of Baetodes Needham & Murphy, 1924 with an updated checklist of Baetidae (Ephemeroptera) of Rondônia state, Brazil.

Abstract

Baetidae is one of the most taxon-rich families in the order Ephemeroptera, and the most studied mayfly in Brazil. Despite recent advances, the vast majority of the Brazilian territory has not yet had its diversity well documented. Some of these critical gaps are in the South-Western Amazon, with emphasis on the state of Rondônia due to the high level of environmental threat (especially deforestation). In the state, only one small survey was carried out 11 years ago. Given this scenario, the objective of this study is to describe two new species and provide access to primary biodiversity data of the family Baetidae in Rondônia. As a result, two new species, Baetodes vermelho sp. nov. and Baetodes cerejeiras sp. nov., are described. Baetodes vermelho sp. nov. can be differentiated from other species by the presence of robust and pointed setae on the dorsal margin of the femora and coxal gills with medial constriction; Baetodes cerejeiras sp. nov. can be differentiated from B. liviae Polegatto & Salles, 2008 (in Salles & Polegatto, 2008) and B. capixaba Souza, Salles & Nessimian, 2011 by the absence of a tubercle on the metanotum, the presence of small blunt setae on the dorsal arc of the labrum, and less prominent tubercles on the abdomen. We have documented 50 species across 54 sites in the Rondônia. Among these, 18 species are being reported for the first time in the state, three species are recorded for the first time in the north of Brazil, and two species are new records for Brazil. Rondônia is the most speciose state in Brazil regarding the family Baetidae.