A Scientometric Approach to the Taxonomy of Brazilian Plecoptera: An Overview of Data

ABSTRACT The order Plecoptera comprises nearly 4,400 species of freshwater insects known for their specific temperature requirements. In Brazil, there are 207 valid extant species, with 172 (83%) being endemic, and particularly the genus Anacroneuria is well-represented. This study aims to present a comprehensive overview of the taxonomy of Brazilian Plecoptera using a scientometric approach. Initially, European authors dominated the taxonomy, describing 67 species by the mid-20th century, but Brazilian researchers, notably Claudio Gilberto Froehlich, have made significant contributions, describing 82 species. Type-specimens of Brazilian species are mostly held in Brazilian institutions, with the MZSP in São Paulo housing the majority (79.8%). São Paulo is the state with the highest number of species (67), followed by Rio de Janeiro (47) and Santa Catarina (47). The states of Alagoas, Paraíba, and Rio Grande do Norte have no recorded Plecoptera species. Among Brazilian terrestrial biomes, the Atlantic Forest exhibits the highest number of species, with 140 known species, followed by the Brazilian Savanna (57). The Hydrographic Region of Southeast Atlantic is that with the largest number of species (82). Limited data exist on the immature stages of Plecoptera across most genera, representing only a quarter of the current diversity in Brazil. Additionally, only 9.7% of the species have available molecular sequence data. Despite these challenges, the Plecoptera in Brazil demonstrate remarkable species diversity, with a significant proportion of endemism. Both European and Brazilian researchers have played crucial roles in advancing the taxonomy and understanding of this fascinating group of insects.

Systematic revision and phylogeny of Paragripopteryx Enderlein, 1909 (Plecoptera: Gripopterygidae).

Among the Neotropical gripopterygids, the genus Paragripopteryx occurs along the Brazilian Atlantic coast to Uruguay. Since its first recognition by Enderlein in 1909, the genus underwent a confusing taxonomic history with some combinations. In this study, we aim to revise Paragripopteryx and present the first morphology-based phylogeny for the genus. The analysis comprised 38 morphological characters and their respective states in 30 terminal taxa, including 13 Paragripopteryx species, two new species identified as belonging to Paragripopteryx, and 15 outgroup species, among which we can highlight 12 different South American genera and one Australian genus of Gripopterygidae. The cladistic analysis yielded a parsimonious tree for k = 3 (137 steps, consistency index = 0.445, and retention index = 0.591) where most Paragripopteryx are nested, except for Uruguayan Paragripopteryx munoai. We can then infer that in its current circumscription Paragripopteryx is polyphyletic. The following two species are described: Paragripopteryx dasalmas sp. nov. and Paragripopteryx ogum sp. nov. Paragripopteryx baratinii is designated as a nomen dubium. Additionally, we provide a key for species identification, updated geographical records, and illustrations for all species. As a corollary, our study gathers relevant morphological information that can help to better understand this genus and create foundations for the next steps.

Five new species of Tupiperla Froehlich, 1969 (Plecoptera: Gripopterygidae).

The stoneflies of the family Gripopterygidae have a Gondwanan distribution (Australian, Neotropical, and Andean regions) and include about 300 species in five recognized subfamilies. The subfamily Gripopteryginae is restricted to the Neotropics and the Andean regions of South America, including 15 genera and about 80 species. Tupiperla Froehlich, with 20 species, is the largest genus among the South American Gripopteryginae. The genus has been recorded from Brazil, Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina. In Brazil, Tupiperla has been recorded from southern, southeastern, and the mountainous areas of central and northeastern, primarily from streams of the Atlantic Forest. We studied specimens of Tupiperla collected from the Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil. Herein, five new species of Tupiperla are described: T. pinhoi sp. nov., T. serrulata sp. nov., T. pessacqi sp. nov., T. ubuntu sp. nov., and T. zwicki sp. nov.

A new species and records of Anacroneuria (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from the Ecological Station, Wenceslau Guimarães, State of Bahia, Brazil.

We studied specimens of the perlid genus Anacroneuria collected at the Ecological Station, Wenceslau Guimarães, State of Bahia, Brazil. A list of Anacroneuria species is provided including a description of a new species, A. patioba n. sp., and a new record is given for A. paprockii Novaes & Bispo, 2014.

New species and records of Anacroneuria (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from the northeastern semi-arid region of Brazil.

The genus Anacroneuria is widely distributed in the Neotropical Region. There are about 80 species listed from Brazil, five of which are recorded from the northeastern semi-arid region of Brazil, an area characterized by irregular and low precipitation. Examination of adult Anacroneuria material from this including areas of Caatinga desert vegetation and Atlantic forest revealed two new species records, A. debilis (Pictet) and A. terere Righi-Cavallaro & Lecci. Additionally, two new species, A. calori n. sp. and A. singela n. sp., are described from this material. These new records and new species reflect a major effort to document the biodiversity of the aquatic insects of the northeastern semi-arid region of Brazil by the Research Program in Semi-arid Biodiversity.

A new species of Tupiperla Froehlich, 1969 (Plecoptera: Gripopterygidae) from Serra da Jibóia, Bahia, Brazil.

The gripopterygid genus Tupiperla comprises 18 species, 16 have been recorded from Brazil, including T. guariru n. sp., described here. The new species was collected from streams in the Serra da Jibóia region, Bahia State, Brazil using light traps. Additional material from Amargosa, Bahia State, Brazil was also studied.

Stoneflies (Insecta: Plecoptera) from Serra Bonita, Bahia, Brazil: new species and updated records.

There are 176 species representing eight genera and two families of Plecoptera known from Brazil. However, only ten of these species are recorded from the State of Bahia. In this study, an inventory of stoneflies from the southern region of Bahia State, Serra Bonita, including the municipality of Camacan, was undertaken from 2007-2012. Stoneflies were collected using UV light pan traps, Malaise traps, and aerial nets. One new gripopterygid species, Tupiperla bispoi n. sp., is described and illustrated. Four genera representing ten other species are recorded: Gripopteryx cancellata, G. clemira, G. garbei, G. pinima, Paragripopteryx sp., and Tupiperla tessellata (Gripopterygidae), Kempnyia alterosarum, K. gracilenta, K. jatim, and K. neotropica (Perlidae). With the present study, the number of known species of stoneflies recorded from Bahia State is 17, ten of these recorded from the Serra Bonita region.