The Naucoridae (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha) of Belize

ABSTRACT

Few regional faunistic treatments of aquatic Heteroptera exist for Mesoamerica. Records given here are the result of three extensive, coincident projects, each generating many specimens of Naucoridae. Thus, presented here is an annotated list of Naucoridae occurring in Belize, with an illustrated taxonomic key and notes on habitat. Three species are new country records, and ten species in four genera are now known from Belize.

KEYWORDS:

• Hemiptera
• saucer bug
• faunistics
• Belize
• Mesoamerica
• Neotropical

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to R. Vogtsberger (Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, Texas) for graciously allowing us access to his specimens of Ambrysus maya, and to Scott Bundy (New Mexico State University) for donating to RWS specimens of Limnocoris insularis. We thank James Azueta, Belize Fisheries Department, and Hector Mai, Belize Forestry Department, Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries & Sustainable Development for assistance in obtaining permits to conduct fieldwork and export specimens. We also thank the Ya'axché Conservation Trust for invaluable assistance collecting samples in southern streams. We thank the following colleagues for access to or loan of specimens under their care: Thomas Henry (United States National Museum of Natural History), Mick Webb (British Museum of Natural History), Hossein Rajaei, Christiane Bramer, and Martin Huseman (Biocentre Grindel and Zoological Museum, University of Hamburg), Robert Zuparko and the late Norman Penny (California Academy of Sciences), and Peter Oboyski and Cheryl Barr (University of California – Berkeley). Figures 4, 6 and 10 were reprinted with permission by Magnolia Press. The Enns Entomology Museum, University of Missouri, provided graphics and computing resources for preparation of the figures.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for Rachael Carrie was provided by NERC-ESRC [grant number ES/F013035/1]; the Rufford Small Grants Foundation [grant number 11376-1&2]; and the Freshwater Biological Association Hugh Cary Gilson Memorial Award for 2012.