Advances in aquatic insect systematics and biodiversity in the Neotropics: introduction

The Neotropical Region or Neotropics, contains vast expanses of rain forest and river systems representing some of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth, but much of its resident biota remains undescribed and undocumented, and some of it is at risk of extirpation and extinction. Anthropogenic disturbances, especially deforestation, urbanization, and climate change, threaten the integrity of the Neotropics and its biodiversity. In the Neotropics, freshwater habitats are particularly susceptible to environmental stressors and freshwater species throughout the Neotropics have experienced marked declines greater than those of other groups when compared to marine and terrestrial systems. Advances in taxonomic descriptions, preparation of keys, and faunal assessments will aid future studies as well as conservation efforts

Abundância e sazonalidade das espécies de Leptoceridae (Insecta, Trichoptera) capturadas com armadilha luminosa no Estado do Paraná, Brasil Abundance and seasonality of Leptoceridae species (Insecta, Trichoptera) captured with light trap at Paraná State, Brazil

<abstract language="eng">From 126,340 adult specimens of Trichoptera captured with light trap during one year of the project called "Survey of the Entomological Fauna in Paraná State" (Paraná, Brazil), 6,375 belong to the family Leptoceridae. The individuals of the family were identified and a list of species is presented. The following species are recorded for the first time to Paraná State: Achoropsyche duodecimpunctata (Navas. 1916); Nectopsyche aureovittala Flint, 1983; Nectopsyche fuscomaculata Flint, 1983; Nectopsyche muhni (Navas, 1916); Nectopsyche separata (Banks, 1920); Nectopsyche ortizi Holzenthal, 1995; Nectopsyche splendida (Navas, 1917) and Tripleclides gracilis (Burmeister, 1839). Discussion on individual abundance and species seasonality are also presented