Two new records of aquatic Hemiptera (Belostomatidae, Mesoveliidae) from southern Florida, with keys to the genera Belostoma Latreille, 1807 and Mesovelia Mulsant and Rey, 1852 in Florida and the northern Caribbean

Abstract

Belostoma minor (Palisot de Beauvois, 1805) and Mesovelia polhemusi Spangler, 1990 are reported for the first time from the continental United States, in southern Florida. Ten species of Belostomatidae (water bugs) belonging to the genus Belostoma Latreille, 1807 are now reported from the United States, with three species documented in Florida; the record of a fourth species, B. flumineum Say, 1832, in Florida is doubtful. Four species of Mesoveliidae (water treaders) belonging to the genus Mesovelia Mulsant and Rey, 1852 are now documented from Florida and the United States. I provide keys to species of the genera Belostoma and Mesovelia in the northern Caribbean Bioregion, representing southern Florida, the Greater Antilles, and the Lucayan Archipelago.

Keywords:

• Belostomatidae
• Florida
• Hemiptera
• macroinvertebrates
• Mesoveliidae
• water bugs

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Zack Falin and Jennifer Thomas (SEMC) for providing specimens and Emily Jernigan for searching through the Cornell University Insect Collection. Jeff Schmid and Melinda Schuman (CSWF) provided access to specimens and sampling sites on their campus. Bob Blinn (NCSU) provided access to specimens and use of their imaging equipment.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

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