Aquatic Hemiptera Associated to Estuaries of the Colombian Pacific Coast

Most of the aquatic hemipterans are predatory insects that inhabit fresh waters, estuaries and a few live in the open ocean. Ocean-dwelling and estuarine-inhabiting families include Gerridae and Veliidae. With the purpose of contributing to the biodiversity and ecology of aquatic hemipterans associated with estuaries of the Pacific coast of Co-lombia and the Chocó biogeographical region, six estuaries were studied from the municipality of Tumaco: El Bajito, El Morro, Villa del Sol, Agua clara, Chilvi, and Inguapi. Aquatic hemiptera were collected and each habitat was characterized measuring physical-chemical parameters of the water. In total, ten species were collected belonging to four genera Limnogonus , Rheumatobates , Telmatometroides , and Trepobates (Family: Gerridae); and two genera Microvelia and Rhagovelia (Family: Veliidae); and Mesoveliidae, with Mesovelia . The habitat was characterized and the most abundant species by sampling place are showed. The species Microvelia inquilina is recorded for the first time. New collection data are added for the species of the Pacific coast of the department of Nariño.