Rhagovelia angustipes Uhler 1894
Creators: name: Galindo-Malagón, Ximena Alejandra
name: Morales, Irina
name: Moreira, Felipe Ferraz Figueiredo
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Veliidae
Rhagovelia
Rhagovelia angustipes

description: Key to the species of the Rhagovelia angustipes complex from Colombia
[Modified from Galindo-Malagón et al. (2021); apterous males and/or females are required or recommended for several of the steps; species of the bisignata and hambletoni groups are treated together because macropterous specimens necessary to distinguish them can be rare; includes R. medinae Galindo-Malagón, Mondragón-F., Morales & Moreira, 2022, whose apterous pronotum does not fit perfectly in the definition of the complex but that is assigned to the hambletoni group; also note that R. guachiconoense Padilla-Gil, 2019 might be a synonym of R. longipes Gould, 1931]
1 Monomorphic apterous; middle tarsus biarticulated; found mainly on brackish or salt water (e.g., mangroves, estuaries)............................................................................................ [salina group] 2
- Dimorphic apterous or macropterous; middle tarsus triarticulated; found mainly on freshwater (e.g., streams, rivers)............................................................................... [bisignata and hambletoni groups] 7
2 Eye covered by abundant setae........................................................................... 3
- Eye with one or two setae only........................................................................... 4
3 Body length 2.20–2.40 mm in the male and 3.30–3.50 mm in the female; posterior surface of male hind femur with a row of 3–7 spines; male paramere as in Fig. 11D ......................................... Rhagovelia plumbea Uhler, 1894
- Body length ~ 1.75 mm in the male and ~ 2.90 mm in the female; posterior surface of male hind femur with a row of 6–10 spines; male paramere as in Fig. 11E ................................. Rhagovelia tintipan Molano, Morales & Moreira, 2018
4 Male fore tibia straight or slightly curved (Fig. 13B); male abdominal segment VIII large, longer dorsally than abdominal mediotergite VII (Fig. 5B); male paramere strongly sculptured (Fig. 11B); male proctiger as in Fig. 12B; dorsum of female abdominal terga VI –VIII (sometimes also V) shiny black centrally...................................................................................................... Rhagovelia colombiana (J. Polhemus & Manzano, 1992)
- Male fore tibia strongly curved (Fig. 13A); male abdominal segment VIII small, approximately equal in length dorsally to abdominal mediotergite VII (as in Fig. 5A); male paramere shape simpler (Figs. 11A, 11C, 11E); male proctiger not as above; at most dorsum of female abdominal terga VII–VIII shiny black or brown centrally (as in Fig. 5C)..................... 5
5 Body length ~3.00 mm in the male and ~ 4.20 mm in the female; male paramere and proctiger as in Figs. 11A, 12A ................................................................... Rhagovelia arcuata (J. Polhemus & Manzano, 1992)
- Body length 2.20–2.60 mm in the male and 3.00– 3.20 mm in the female; male paramere and proctiger not as above....... 6
6 Posterior surface of male hind femur with about 6 spines beyond middle; male abdominal sterna without median carina; female abdominal laterotergites slightly elevated (Fig. 5E)............................ Rhagovelia rosarensis Padilla-Gil, 2010
- Posterior surface of male hind femur with about 5 spines basally, followed by one long spine before middle, then about 13 smaller spines toward apex; male abdominal sterna VII–VIII with weak median carina; female abdominal laterotergites vertical or nearly so (Fig. 5D)......................................... Rhagovelia nuqui Molano, Morales & Moreira, 2018
7 Hind femur without spines in both sexes (Fig. 13D).......................................................... 8
- Hind femur with spines in both sexes (Figs. 13E, 13F)....................................................... 10
8 Dorsum of abdominal terga V–VIII shiny black centrally; male paramere and proctiger as in Figs. 11V, 12V ............................................................................. Rhagovelia guachiconoense Padilla-Gil, 2019
- At most dorsum of abdominal segments VII–VIII shiny black centrally; male paramere and proctiger not as above........ 9
9 Antennomere II shorter than III; fore and hind coxae and trochanters dark-brown to black, rarely brown to yellow; male fore tibia very thin for about 3/4 of length, then expanding toward apex (Fig. 13C); paramere and proctiger as in Figs. 11O, 12O ........................................................................... Rhagovelia longipes Gould, 1931
- Antennomere II longer than III; fore and hind coxae and trochanters yellow (Fig. 7A); male fore tibia thicker and more uniform throughout length; paramere and proctiger not as above.......................... Rhagovelia caunapi Padilla-Gil, 2015
10 Male metasternum and abdominal sterna II–IV strongly swollen, with brushes of long golden setae medially (Fig. 7B); lateral margins of male abdominal segment VIII clearly divergent posteriorly (Fig. 7B); male paramere and proctiger as in Figs. 11L, 12L. .............................................................. Rhagovelia gastrotricha Padilla-Gil, 2011
- Male metasternum and abdominal sterna II–IV not strongly swollen, covered only by short setae in most species; male abdominal segment VIII subcylindrical, with lateral margins parallel or bowed, but not clearly divergent posteriorly; male paramere and proctiger not as above................................................................................. 11
11 Male hind trochanter with spines; male hind femur much thicker than middle femur, enormously incrassate in most specimens (Figs. 6E, 13F); male paramere and proctiger as in Figs. 11I, 12I ................ Rhagovelia calopa Drake & Harris, 1927
- Male hind trochanter without spines; male hind femur at most slightly thicker than middle femur, never enormously incrassate (as in Figs. 13D, 13E); male paramere and proctiger not as above.............................................. 12
12 Apterous pronotum uniquely conformed, longer than dorsal eye length, partially covering mesonotum, with posterior margin slightly convex and a transverse sulcus on the posterior region, giving the impression of a double posterior margin (Fig. 7E); male abdominal sternum VII with pair of projections bearing tufts of brown setae (Fig. 7F); male paramere and proctiger as in Figs. 11W, 12W. ..................... Rhagovelia medinae Galindo-Malagón, Mondragón-F., Morales & Moreira, 2022
- Apterous pronotum typically conformed, shorter than dorsal eye length, with posterior margin straight or slightly concave (as in Figs. 1A, 1C); male abdominal sternum VII without pair of projections bearing tufts of brown setae; male paramere and proctiger not as above................................................................................. 13
13 Male abdominal sternum VI or VII with a projection or spine................................................. 14
- Male abdominal sterna VI and VII lacking projections and spines.............................................. 15
14 Male abdominal sternum VI with a small, triangular projection on posterior margin (Fig. 1E); male abdominal sternum VII lacking a spine; male paramere and proctiger as in Figs. 2C, 2D; female abdominal laterotergites folded over mediotergites, strongly convergent, almost touching over between segments V and VI, then divergent toward apex of body (Figs. 1C, 1D).............................................................................. Rhagovelia andradei sp. nov.
- Male abdominal sternum VI lacking a posterior projection; male abdominal sternum VII with a stout, slightly curved spine; male paramere and proctiger as in Figs. 11S, 12S; female abdominal laterotergites vertical anteriorly, slightly folded over mediotergites for posterior most three segments.................................... Rhagovelia spinosa Gould, 1931
15 Body length 2.60–2.90 in the male and 2.80–3.10 in the female................................................ 16
- Body length 3.00– 4.20 in the male and 3.20–4.70 in the female................................................ 20
16 Male hind tibia lacking spines and apical spur (apex of tibia can sometimes bear a tuft of setae, but never a spur)........ 17
- Male hind tibia with short spines and an apical spur (as in Fig. 2A)............................................. 18
17 Lateral margins of male abdomen more evenly tapering to apex (Fig. 8E); male paramere and proctiger as in Figs. 11T, 12T; female hind femur thinner (Fig. 10A); female abdomen elongated (Fig. 10A)...... Rhagovelia tantilla Drake & Harris, 1933
- Lateral margins of male abdomen more strongly bowed on segments IV–V (Fig. 8A); male paramere and proctiger as in Figs. 11P, 12P; female hind femur thicker (Fig. 9D); female abdomen short and robust (Fig. 9D)............................................................................ Rhagovelia molanoi Galindo-Malagón, Morales & Moreira, 2021
18 All coxae and trochanters yellowish (Fig. 7C); male abdominal sterna II–V with median comb of long golden setae (Fig. 7C); male abdominal segment VIII large and robust (Fig. 7C); male paramere and proctiger as in Figs. 11N, 12N; lateral margins of female abdomen sinuous (Fig. 9C); posterior margin of female abdominal tergum VIII with long setae................................................................... Rhagovelia graziae Galindo-Malagón, Morales & Moreira, 2021
- Middle trochanter dark-brown to black; male abdominal sterna only with short setae; male abdominal segment VIII small (as in Fig. 8C); male paramere and proctiger not as above; lateral margins of female abdomen more evenly tapering or bowed (as in Fig. 9E); posterior margin of female abdominal tergum VIII without long setae................................. 19
19 Male hind femur with 9–11 spines; male hind tibia with 11 short spines and an apical spur; lateral margins of male abdomen more evenly tapering to apex (Figs. 8C); male paramere and proctiger as in Figs. 11Q, 12Q; female hind femur with 6–7 spines; female abdomen more elongated, with laterotergites vertical or nearly so (Fig. 9E)..... Rhagovelia rosensis Padilla-Gil, 2011
- Male hind femur with 4–7 spines; male hind tibia with 2 short spines and an apical spur; lateral margins of male abdomen more strongly bowed on segments IV–V (Fig. 8D); male paramere and proctiger as in Figs. 11R, 12R; female hind femur with 4–5 spines; female abdomen more robust, with laterotergites slightly elevated (Fig. 9F)...................................................................................................... Rhagovelia santanderi Padilla-Gil, 2015
20 Body length 3.00– 3.40 in the male and 3.20–3.75 in the female................................................ 21
- Body length 3.50–4.20 in the male and 4.00– 4.70 in the female................................................ 25
21 Male hind tibia only with an apical spur, without small spines throughout length; male paramere and proctiger as in Figs. 11F, 12F. .................................................................... Rhagovelia angustipes Uhler, 1894
- Male hind tibia with small spines throughout length and an apical spur; male paramere and proctiger not as above....... 22
22 Male hind femur thicker, shorter than hind tibia (ratio ~0.90/1.00) (Fig. 8B); male hind femur with 4–5 spines; only abdominal tergum VIII shiny black..................................................... Rhagovelia penta Padilla-Gil, 2015
- Male hind femur thinner, longer than hind tibia (ratio ~1.05/1.00) (as in Fig. 6A); male hind femur with at least 6 spines; central shiny black areas at least on dorsum of abdominal segments VII–VIII........................................... 23
23 Male hind femur slightly surpassing apex of abdomen, with 6 spines (Fig. 6D); male paramere and proctiger as in Figs. 11H, 12H; female hind femur with 4 spines........................................ Rhagovelia calceola Padilla-Gil, 2011
- Male hind femur distinctly surpassing apex of abdomen, with at least 8 spines (as in Fig. 8F); male paramere and proctiger not as above; female hind femur with at least 7 spines.......................................................... 24
24 Middle coxa dark-brown to black; male hind femur with at least 10 spines; male paramere and proctiger as in Figs. 11U, 12U; female abdominal mediotergites approximately in the same horizontal plane (Fig. 10B); female abdominal laterotergites horizontal or slightly elevated (Fig. 10B)...................................... Rhagovelia tenuipes Champion, 1898
- Middle coxa yellow (as in Fig. 6B); male hind femur with 8 spines; male paramere and proctiger not as above; female abdominal mediotergites I–III raised, IV–VI depressed, VII horizontal, tergum VIII declining posteriorly (Fig. 9A); female abdominal laterotergites elevated, more strongly on last two segments (Fig. 9A)........... Rhagovelia barbacoensis Padilla-Gil, 2015
25 Fore and hind trochanters, and middle coxa yellow (Fig. 10C); male hind femur shorter and thicker, with 6–7 spines (Fig. 6F); male paramere and proctiger as in Figs. 11M, 12M. ............................. Rhagovelia grandis Padilla-Gil, 2011
- Fore and hind trochanters, and middle coxa black; male hind femur longer and thinner, with at least 10 spines (as in Fig. 6C); male paramere and proctiger not as above................................................................. 26
26 Legs with abundant long black setae; male paramere and proctiger as in Figs. 11G, 12G; female abdominal laterotergites strongly elevated, almost touching at apex of last segment, which bears abundant brown setae posteriorly (Fig. 9B)..................................................... Rhagovelia boyacensis Galindo-Malagón, Morales & Moreira, 2021
- Legs without abundant long black setae; male paramere and proctiger not as above; female abdominal laterotergites not as above.............................................................................................. 27
27 Central shiny black areas on dorsum of abdominal segments VII–VIII in the male and VI–VIII in the female; male hind femur with 14–16 spines; male paramere and proctiger as Figs. 11J, 12J ................... Rhagovelia cardia Padilla-Gil, 2011
- Central shiny black areas on dorsum of abdominal segments V–VIII in both sexes; male hind femur with 10 spines; male paramere and proctiger as in Figs. 11K, 12K ................................. Rhagovelia cimarrona Padilla-Gil, 2011
description: Published as part of Galindo-Malagón, Ximena Alejandra, Morales, Irina & Moreira, Felipe Ferraz Figueiredo, 2023, A new species and updates on the Rhagovelia angustipes complex (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Veliidae) in Colombia, pp. 367-389 in Zootaxa 5361 (3) on pages 380-382, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5361.3.4, http://zenodo.org/record/10147202