Two newRhagovelia(Heteroptera: Veliidae) and new records for twelve species in southeastern Brazil

New distributional data on aquatic and semiaquatic bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerromorpha & Nepomorpha) from South America

“…Each pair of species are morphologically very similar, differing mainly in structures exclusive to males, which may lead to misidentifications (e.g. R. macta in Moreira and Ribeiro 2009), especially because they might co-occur in their geographical ranges.…”

Escalation and Morphological Constraints of Antagonistic Armaments in Water Striders

“…Despite the rich diversity of this group of semiaquatic insects, the vast majority of these studies have focused on the Gerridae family (Insecta, Heteroptera, Gerromorpha, Veliidae) (Arnqvist, 1992;Rowe, 1995, 2002a;Weigensberg and Fairbairn, 1996). Here, we investigated the evolution of sexual dimorphism in the tropical genus Rhagovelia from the Veliidae family (Insecta, Heteroptera, Gerromorpha, Veliidae) (Andersen, 1982;Polhemus, 1997;Moreira and Ribeiro, 2009). In this genus, sexual dimorphism is particularly dramatic with both sexes often bearing morphological traits reminiscent to those usually found in species with strong sexual conflict (Andersen, 1982;Polhemus, 1997;Arnqvist and Rowe, 2005;Moreira and Ribeiro, 2009).…”

“…Here, we investigated the evolution of sexual dimorphism in the tropical genus Rhagovelia from the Veliidae family (Insecta, Heteroptera, Gerromorpha, Veliidae) (Andersen, 1982;Polhemus, 1997;Moreira and Ribeiro, 2009). In this genus, sexual dimorphism is particularly dramatic with both sexes often bearing morphological traits reminiscent to those usually found in species with strong sexual conflict (Andersen, 1982;Polhemus, 1997;Arnqvist and Rowe, 2005;Moreira and Ribeiro, 2009). However, the process of sexual selection; i.e., male competition, mate choice or sexual conflict over mating rate, driving sexual dimorphism in Rhagovelia is unknown (Andersson, 1994;Arnqvist and Rowe, 2005).…”

“…However, the process of sexual selection; i.e., male competition, mate choice or sexual conflict over mating rate, driving sexual dimorphism in Rhagovelia is unknown (Andersson, 1994;Arnqvist and Rowe, 2005). Through morphological and behavioral observations, we identified a large set of potentially sexually antagonistic armaments in the Rhagovelia genus and tested their role during sexual interactions in a representative species called Rhagovelia antilleana (Andersen, 1982;Polhemus, 1997;Moreira and Ribeiro, 2009). We then tested how variation in sexually antagonistic traits affects male and female success during sexual interactions.…”

Morphometric variation in the mesothoracic leg of Rhagovelia gastrotricha (Hemiptera: Veliidae) in the Colombian Andes

“…A pesar de la diversidad y amplia distribución geográfica de las Rhagovelia y el gran interés que ha despertado en los últimos años (Moreira & Ribeiro, 2009;Moreira et al, 2010Moreira et al, , 2012Padilla-Gil, 2011a, 2011b, 2012b, 2013Padilla-Gil & Moreira, 2013), la variabilidad de las características biológicas y ecológicas de las especies neotropicales de este género no se ha estudiado.…”