# The Hydradephaga (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Gyrinidae, Haliplidae, Noteridae) of the Iberá wetlands, the second largest wetland area of South America

## TL;DR

This study documents the Hydradephaga beetles in the Iberá wetlands, revealing high biodiversity and new species records for Argentina.

## Contribution

The first inventory of Hydradephaga beetles in the Iberá wetlands, including several new records for Argentina and the province of Corrientes.

## Key findings

- 80 Hydradephaga taxa were identified, with 62 species and 18 genera.
- Five species are newly recorded in Argentina, and eight in Corrientes.
- Dytiscidae is the most diverse family in the region.

## Abstract

This study presents the first inventory of Hydradephaga beetles from the Iberá wetlands, a natural reserve located in the province of Corrientes, Argentina. A total of 80 taxa were recognised, of which 62 are identified at the species level and 18 at the genus level. Of the four Hydradephaga families present in Argentina, Dytiscidae is the richest in terms of the number of genera and species (25 genera, 43 species), followed by Noteridae (6 genera, 32 species), Gyrinidae (2 genera, 3 species), and Haliplidae (1 genus, 2 species). The following five species are recorded for the first time in Argentina: Copelatus
cf.
inornatus Sharp, 1882; Bidessodes
cf.
evanidus Young, 1986; Neobidessus
trilineatus (Zimmermann, 1925); Haliplus
nieseri van Vondel & Spangler, 2008; and Suphisellus
cf.
pereirai Guignot, 1958. Additionally, eight species are reported for the first time in the province of Corrientes: Meridiorhantus
orbignyi (Balke, 1992); Celina
cf.
parallela (Babington, 1842); Laccophilus
cf.
obliquatus Régimbart, 1889; Laccophilus
cf.
paraguensis Régimbart, 1903; Haliplus
ornatipennis Zimmermann, 1921; Hydrocanthus
paraguayensis Zimmermann, 1928; Mesonoterus
crassicornis (Régimbart, 1889); and Suphisellus
cf.
rufipes (Sharp, 1882). The high diversity of Hydradephaga beetles recorded highlights the ecological significance of this protected area.