Revisão de Hydrobiomorpha Blakburn, 1888 (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) do novo mundo

Abstract

Hydrophilidae is one of the most diverse families of aquatic beetles and occurs in all biogeographical regions except Antarctica. The family is composed of six subfamilies: Hydrophilinae, Chaetarthriinae, Enochrinae, Acidocerinae, Rygmodinae and Sphaeridiinae and has about 2900 described species and 169 genera. In Hydrophilinae, Hydrobiomorpha is the second most species-rich genus of the tribe Hydrophilini. This genus has a Pantropical distribution and 63 described species, more than half of the species (35) occur in the New World. A revision of Hydrobiomorpha species is of great taxonomic importance because the previous reviews presented confusing, non-standard, overly abbreviated, or incomplete descriptions, and the identification keys often present subjective characters that are insufficient for the identification of the species, and some illustrations lack precision and clarity. The aim of the present study was to carry out a taxonomic review on Hydrobiomorpha in order to increase taxonomic and morphological knowledge about the species in this genus. The 35 New World species were redescribed based on male and female specimens (when available), except for H. polita, which was redescribed only based on its description and previous redescriptions. Three species were synonymized, and nine species were described, bringing the total number of species in the genus to 69. For each species a diagnosis, habitus and male genitalia photographs were provided, in addition to photographs of important characters for species identification. Finally, distribution data were updated, including new records, and an illustrated dichotomous identification key for the New World species was provided.