New species and new distributional records of the hygropetric water scavenger beetle genus Oocyclus Sharp (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) from the Guiana Shield.

The species of the water scavenger beetle genus Oocyclus Sharp are reviewed for the Guiana Shield region of South America. Seven species are recorded, including one here described as new: Oocyclus paraiso sp. n. from the Brazilian state of Pará. New records of previously described species are also reported for Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname. The aedeagus of O. coromoto Short & García is illustrated for the first time. As with all other known members of the genus, all Guiana Shield species are hygropetric habitat specialists. A key to the Oocyclus of the Guiana Shield is provided.

Description of the immature stages of the Neotropical whirligig beetle Gyrinus (Neogyrinus) rozei Ochs, 1953 (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae) and first report of the parasitoid wasp Melanosmicra sp. (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) on a Gyrinus species.

In most species of Gyrinidae, the immature stages are unknown, especially due to the difficulty in collecting the juveniles and assigning them to a particular species. Molecular association is a feasible technique that may solve this problem. Recent studies have used DNA sequence data, specifically the gene cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI), to associate immature and adult stages, thus enabling the description of the former. The objectives of this study were (1) to describe and illustrate the immature stages of Gyrinus (Neogyrinus) rozei Ochs, 1953 including morphometric, chaetotaxic and bionomic information, and (2) to assess the usefulness of the gene COI to associate immatures and adults of Gyrinus. The studied specimens were collected in Roraima state, northern Brazil. The association of immature and adult stages was done either by rearing adults under laboratory conditions or by using DNA sequence data (COI). Eggs were described based on scanning electron microscopy; they are distinguished mainly by several features of chorion, micropyle and reticulation. Larvae of G. (N.) rozei can be distinguished from those of other Neotropical Gyrinidae by a combination of several characters, including the stipes with five robust hook-like additional setae on the dorsointernal margin, and the lacinia roughly hook-shaped. The pupa is similar to that of G. argentinus Steinhel, 1869, except for the number of setae on the body. The first record of the parasitoid wasp Melanosmicra sp. (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) on a Gyrinus species is also provided.

Gyrinus rhyssonotum sp. n., a new species of Gyrinidae (Coleoptera: Adephaga) from northern Brazil.

Gyrinus rhyssonotum sp. n. is described and illustrated based on adult males and females collected in Barcelos County, Amazonas state, Brazil. The new species belongs to the subgenus Oreogyrinus Ochs, 1935 and it is compared with Gyrinus (Oreogyrinus) fittkaui Ochs, 1963 and G. (O.) opalinus Régimbart, 1883, both occurring in the Brazilian Amazonas and G. (O.) colombicus Régimbart, 1883 and G. (O.) venezolensis Ochs, 1954, these two latter alien to the Brazilian fauna but with which G. (O) rhyssonotum sp. n. seems to be more closely related, though the new species can be distinguished from both by a series of characteristics, mainly observed in the body shape, elytra, pronotum, and in male and female genitalia.

On the genus Berosus Leach (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) in the State of Roraima, Brazil: description of three new species and new records.

As a contribution to knowledge of the aquatic beetles of the Neotropical Region, the genus Berosus Leach is recorded for the first time from Roraima State in northern Brazil. Three new species are described and illustrated: Berosus illuviosus sp. n., B. parvus sp. n., and B. andreazzei sp. n. In addition, we present a checklist of the Berosus species collected in 26 ponds in the savanna area of the State of Roraima, with 12 new species records for the state, five of which are also new country records for Brazil.

Description of the mature larva and pupa of Ora semibrunnea Pic (Coleoptera: Scirtidae) with notes on its biology.

In this paper we describe and illustrate for the first time the immature forms (larva and pupa) of Ora semibrunnea Pic, 1922, including biological information and behavior observed in the laboratory. This is the first record of the occurrence of this species in the Brazilian Amazon region. Larvae and pupae were found in natural lakes associated with macrophyte banks. Pupae are aquatic and have morphological adaptations (well-developed pronotal siphons) to obtain atmospheric O2 at the water surface.

Gyretes Brullé (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae) from Brazil: Morphology of eggs and early instars.

Taxonomic information regarding Gyrinidae is mostly based on adults, especially due to the difficulty in collecting immatures and assigning them to a particular species. Association between immatures and adults is sometimes difficult because closely related species can be found in the same habitat. To solve this problem a feasible technique is rearing under laboratory conditions. However, this method is challenging because larval survival rate is usually low, and emulation of natural conditions is difficult. Molecular techniques, especially the use of the COI gene, have been applied to identify species and to associate different life stages. However, in some species groups this marker has not been successful in distinguishing closely related species. The objectives of this study are to describe the egg and the first two instars of Gyretes nubilus Ochs, 1965 and the egg of G. minax Ochs, 1967 and to evaluate the utility of COI to associate immatures and adults. The association of these immature stages with adults was done either rearing adults under laboratory conditions or by using DNA sequence data (COI), corroborating the utility of this molecular marker to associate immature and adults in Gyretes. These immature stages are described, including chaetotaxic analysis of larvae for the first time for the genus Gyretes Brullé, 1835. The eggs are described based on scanning electron microscopy. The eggs are similar to those of other Gyrinidae genera in having a micropylar region in the anterior pole and a longitudinal fissure, and by the absence of an aeropyle, but they differ mainly in characters related to chorionic structure and reticulation. Larvae of Gyretes can be distinguished from those of the other Neotropical Gyrinidae genera by a combination of several characters, including the frontoclypeal seta FR3 short, presence of three conspicuous additional setae on lateral region of parietal (contiguous to stemmata), and posterior margin of lacinia smooth, with apex not indented.

Three new species of Claudiella Reichardt & Vanin, 1976 (Coleoptera, Torridincolidae) from Brazil.

The monotypic Neotropical genus Claudiella Reichardt & Vanin, 1976 is currently known only from Brazil (C. ingens Reichardt & Vanin, 1976). We describe here three new species from Brazil, C. jefersoni sp. n., C. jeaneae sp. n. and C. anamariae sp. n., from Roraima, Minas Gerais and Bahia states, respectively, bringing to four the number of species included in Claudiella. These species can be distinguished by different characteristics observed in the legs, mouth parts, metathoracic wings and male genitalia.

A Checklist of the Gyrinidae (Coleoptera: Adephaga) of Brazil.

A checklist of all known species of the water beetle family Gyrinidae (whirligig beetles) recorded from Brazil is assembled. This checklist is based on literature published prior to 2012. A total of 206 species and subspecies are cited for Brazil, distributed among three genera (Enhydrus Laporte, 1834, Gyrinus Geoffroy, 1762 and Gyretes Brullé, 1835). For each species we also include a complete account of its nomenclature including synonyms and historical combinations. The geographical distribution of each species both inside and outside of Brazil is provided.

Fauna de coleópteros aquáticos (insect: coleoptera) na Amazônia central, Brasil / Aquatic Beetlefauna (insecta: coleoptera) in Central Amazonia, Brazil

Foram coletados 888 exemplares de Coleoptera aquáticos nos municípios de Manaus, Manacapuru e Presidente Figueiredo (AM), de fevereiro de 2000 a agosto de 2002, distribuídos em 12 famílias, 50 gêneros e 88 espécies ou morfoespécies. Novas ocorrências para o Brasil, incluem as seguintes espécies de Dytiscidae: Hydrodessus robinae, H. surinamensis, Hypodessus frustrator, Neobidessus confusus, N. spangleri e N. woodruffi. Os gêneros Agaporomorphus (Dytiscidae) e Pronoterus (Noteridae) são registrados pela primeira vez para o estado do Amazonas, assim como as espécies: P. punctipennis e Suphisellus nigrinus (Noteridae); Agaporomorphus grandisinuatus, Bidessonotus tibialis, Derovatellus lentus,Desmopachria nitida, Hydaticus xanthomelas, Laccophilus tarsalis, Liodessus affinis e Megadytes laevigatus (Dytiscidae). A família Dytiscidae foi a que apresentou maior riqueza, com 34 espécies, seguida de Hydrophilidae, com 20 e Noteridae, com 12 espécies. Os gêneros com maior número de espécies foram Gyretes (Gyrinidae) e Suphisellus (Noteridae) com 6 espécies, Copelatus (Dytiscidae) e Tropisternus (Hydrophilidae), com 5 espécies.

In this work, 888 specimens of aquatic Coleoptera were collected in Manaus, Manacapuru and Presidente Figueiredo counties (AM), distributed in 12 families, 50 genera and 88 species or morphospecies. New occurrences in Brasil include the following species of Dytiscidae: Hydrodessus robinae, H. surinamensis, Hypodessus frustrator, Neobidessus confusus, N. spangleri and N. woodruffi. The genera Agaporomorphus (Dytiscidae) and Pronoterus (Noteridae) were reported for the first time in the State of Amazonas, as well as the species P. punctipennis and Suphisellus nigrinus (Noteridae); Agaporomorphus grandisinuatus, Bidessonotus tibialis, Derovatellus lentus,Desmopachria nitida, Hydaticus xanthomelas, Laccophilus tarsalis, Liodessus affinis and Megadytes laevigatus (Dytiscidae). The family Dytiscidae presented the highest richness, with 34 species, followed by Hydrophilidae, with 20 and Noteridae, with 12 espécies. The genera with greatest number of species were Gyretes (Gyrinidae) and Suphisellus (Noteridae) with 6 species, Copelatus (Dytiscidae) and Tropisternus (Hydrophilidae) with 5 species.