The marine Haloveliinae (Hemiptera:Veliidae) of Australia, New Caledonia and southern New Guinea

Abstract

Water striders (Hemiptera, Gerromorpha) are common inhabitants of aquatic habitats throughout the world. More than 150 species representing five families have colonised the marine environment, chiefly coastal areas of tropical seas in habitats with a strong tidal influence. The Australian fauna of marine water striders is particularly diverse and species-rich, comprising about 30 species. The present paper deals with the marine Haloveliinae (Veliidae) of Australia, New Caledonia and southern New Guinea. They are classified in two genera, Xenobates Esaki and Halovelia Bergroth. Xenobates mangrove, ovatus, major and spinoides (Queensland), X. lansburyi and chinai (Northern Territory), and X. caudatus (southern Papua New Guinea) are described as new. X. myorensis (Lansbury), X. angulanus (Polhemus) and X. loyaltiensis (China) comb. nov. are redescribed. Descriptive notes are presented for the five species of Halovelia recorded from Australia. Keys to adults of all species are provided and their distributions mapped. Finally, we discuss the zoogeography and ecology of the marine Haloveliinae of Australia.