Abstract
Microvelia Westwood, 1834 (Gerromorpha: Gerridae: Microveliinae) is a widespread genus of semiaquatic bugs with more than 100 species recorded from the Neotropical Region. Microvelia pulchella Westwood, 1834 is the type species of the genus and one of the most common throughout the American continents, ranging from Canada to Argentina. Although its life cycle has been studied repeatedly, the immature stages have not been described. Here, we provide descriptions, measurements, and illustrations of eggs and four nymphal instars of this species based on specimens collected and reared in southeastern Brazil.
References
- Albino-Bohórquez, A., Bohórquez, G., Bacca, T. & Gutiérrez, Y. (2024) Life history traits and rearing protocol of Microvelia pulchella (Hemiptera: Veliidae): a potential biological control agent and model for behavioral and ecological studies. Caldasia, 46, 194–209. https://doi.org/10.15446/caldasia.v46n1.105928
- Andersen, N.M. (1982) The semiaquatic bugs (Hemiptera, Gerromorpha) phylogeny, adaptations, biogeography and classification. Entomonograph, 3, 1–455. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004631267
- Armisén, D., Viala, S., Cordeiro, I.R.S., Crumière, A.J.J., Hendaoui, E., Le Bouquin, A., Duchemin, W., Santos, E., Toubiana, W., Vargas-Lowman, A., Floriano, C.F.B., Polhemus, D.A., Wang, Y.-H., Rowe, L., Moreira, F.F.F. & Khila, A. (2022) Transcriptome-based phylogeny of the semi-aquatic bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerromorpha) reveals patterns of lineage expansion in a series of new adaptive zones. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 39, msac229. https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msac229
- Bobb, M.L. (1974) The aquatic and semi-aquatic Hemiptera of Virginia. Insects of Virginia, 7, 1–195.
- Drake, C.J. & Harris, H.M. (1928) Concerning some North American water-striders with descriptions of three new species. Ohio Journal of Science, 28, 269–276.
- Drake, C.J. & Hussey, R.F. (1951) Concerning some American Microvelia (Hemiptera: Veliidae). Florida Entomologist, 34, 137–145. https://doi.org/10.2307/3492444
- Drake, C.J. & Plaumann, F. (1955) Some Microvelia from southern Brazil (Hemiptera: Veliidae). Bulletin, Southern California Academy of Sciences, 54, 22–24.
- Frick, K.E. (1949) The biology of Microvelia capitata Guerin, 1857, in the Panama Canal Zone and its role as a predator on anopheline larvae (Veliidae: Hemiptera). Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 42, 77–100. https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/42.1.77
- Grazia, J., Schwertner, C.F., Fernandes, J.A.M., Moreira, F.F.F., Gil-Santana, H.R., Ferreira, P.S.F., Carrenho, R., Brugnera, R. & Guidoti, M. (2024) Subordem Heteroptera Latreille, 1810. In: Rafael, J.A., Melo, G.A.R., de Carvalho, C.J.B., Casari, S. & Constantino, R. (Eds.), Insetos do Brasil: Diversidade e Taxonomia. 2ª edição. Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, pp. 395–442. https://doi.org/10.61818/56330464c25
- Hayat, M.A. (1970) Principles and Techniques of Electron Microscopy: Biological Applications. Volume 1. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 412 pp.
- Hoffmann, W.E. (1925) Some aquatic Hemiptera having only four nymphal stages. Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society, 20, 93–94.
- Hungerford, H.B. (1919) The biology and ecology of aquatic and semi-aquatic Hemiptera. Kansas University Science Bulletin, 11, 3–341. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.14881
- Mazzucconi, S.A., Armúa de Reyes, C. & Estévez, A.L. (2022) Aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera (Insecta: Hemiptera) from Iberá Natural Reserve (Corrientes Province, Argentina). Zootaxa, 5104 (4), 451–505. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5104.4.1
- Miura, T. & Takahashi, R. (1988) Predation of Microvelia pulchella (Hemiptera: Veliidae) on mosquito larvae. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, 4, 91–93.
- Moreira, F.F.F. (2015) The semaquatic gerromorphans. In: Panizzi, A.R. & Grazia, J. (Eds.), True Bugs (Heteroptera) of the Neotropics. Springer Science+Business Media, Dordrecht, pp. 113–156. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9861-7_6
- Polhemus, J.T. & Manzano, M.R. (1992) Marine Heteroptera of the eastern tropical Pacific (Gelastocoridae, Gerridae, Mesoveliidae, Saldidae, Veliidae). In: Quintero, D. & Aiello, A. (Eds.), Insects of Panama and Mesoamerica Selected Studies. Oxford University Press, Oxford, New York and Tokyo, pp. 302–320.
- Polhemus, J.T. & Polhemus, D.A. (2008) Global diversity of true bugs (Heteroptera; Insecta) in freshwater. Hydrobiologia, 595, 379–391. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-007-9033-1
- Scudder, G.G.E. (2008) New provincial and state records for Heteroptera (Hemiptera) in Canada and the United States. Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia, 105, 3–18.
- Štys, P. & Davidová-Vilímová, J. (1989) Unusual numbers of instars in Heteroptera: a review. Acta Entomologica Bohemoslovaca, 86, 1–32.
- Taylor, S.J. & McPherson, J.E. (1999) Morphological variation and polyvoltinism of Microvelia pulchella (Heteroptera: Veliidae) in southern Illinois, USA. Acta Societatis Zoologicae Bohemicae, 63, 237–249.
- Torre-Bueno, J.R. de la (1917) Life history of the northern Microvelia—Microvelia borealis (Hem. Het.). Entomological News, 28, 354–359.