COLEOPTERA: Is the elmid fauna of Colombia strongly marked by Nearctic elements? A remote analysis of genus names provided in 30 recently published benthic macroinvertebrate assessments: (Coleoptera: Byrrhoidea: Elmidae)

Resumen

The genus records of adult aquatic Coleoptera of the family Elmidae, generated by 30 macroinvertebrate assessments of Colombian running waters, were evaluated against the background of taxonomic literature used for identification and by means of zoogeographical plausibility checks. Around 42% of the reported genera and 15% of the overall genus records turned out to be presumably erroneous, attributing 12 Nearctic genera and one Old World genus to the Colombian elmid fauna. The total of misleading generic identifications is assumed to be much higher and turned out to be generally induced by common appliance of taxonomic identification keys not suitable for taxonomic treatment of the Neotropical fauna. On the other hand, an existing appropriate key to South American genera (Manzo 2005) was found to have rarely been used. Some supplementary notes to this key are given, together with general recommendations for coherent genus determination of Elmidae from the Neotropical realm, and an updated checklist of New World genera and their principal distribution areas.