Estudos comportamentais e taxonômicos de Paravelia sp, draken and haris, 1935 (hemiptera: gerromorpha: veliidae) em condições de laboratório)

Abstract

The family Veliidae belongs to the order Hemiptera and are characterized by the fact that they exploit the surface tension of water. The Veliidae are divided into three subfamilies: Ocelloveliinae, Rhagoveliinae, Perittopinae, Veliinae, Microvelinae and Haloveliinae. The genus Paravelia inhabits predominantly bromelia leaf axils. The objective of this work was to demographically survey and identify the species of veliidaes found in bromeliads. The collections were made in the rubber tree area of the campus of the Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia - UFRA, in distinct years and months: June and July of 2006, and April of 2007, which were chosen for presenting a higher rainfall potential, consequently the water levels of the nurseries would be above normal providing favorable conditions for the development of Veliidae. Some individuals were collected and bred to analyze their potential age as predators of disease vector insect larvae, and others were placed in 70% alcohol for identification. The results obtained so far registered the occurrence of only one genus: Paravelia, and of this genus only one species is still unidentified. The number of female Veliidae is greater than the number of male Veliidae, establishing a ratio of 1.49 female Veliidae to each male Veliidae. The presence of immatures proves that there is reproduction in the water found between the axils of the bromeliad leaves. The work is still in progress and the data obtained so far are not conclusive; however, the adult specimens raised in the laboratory demonstrate the function of biological controllers.