Estudos taxonômicos dos gerromorphas da coleção entomológica do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi

Abstract

The order Hemiptera encompasses the infra-order Gerromorpha, which is represented by the families Veliidae, Hydrometridae, Berytidae, Mesoveliidae and Hebridae. This infra-order is characterized by semi-aquatic bedbugs, those that live on the surface tension of water, gliding and/or walking normally in search of food; they also live close to water bodies and/or on aquatic plants. Several species of this infra-order have pre-apical claws. The knowledge of the species of the state of Pará (taxonomic and behavioral studies) is little or almost nonexistent, so the main objective of this work is to study taxonomically the specimens of the family Gerridae, Veliidae and Hydrometridae (Heteroptera: Gerrornopha). In this first year, material from Caxiuanã was collected and identified. The identification of the specimens was made with the aid of a key for identification and comparisons with specimens from the Goeldi Museum collection. Of the 160 specimens assembled and identified to genus level, 90 are from the family Veliidae, 69 from the family Gerridae and one specimen from the family Hydrometridae.