Occurrence, distribution and abundance of Halobates micans Eschscholtz, 1822 (Heteroptera, Gerridae) along the southeastern Brazilian coast.
Data collected during an oceanographic cruise along the southeastern Brazilian coast from Cape Frio (22 degrees 58' S) and Paraná (27 degrees 50' S) in March 1982 showed that the marine insect Halobates micans occurred along the Southeastern Brazilian Bight, but in lower abundance in low-temperature areas due to the intrusion and upwelling of South Atlantic Central Water, and in low-salinity areas in Coastal Water. Insect capture was higher at night and in the oligotrophic Tropical Water. The number of nymphs and adult females was higher, probably because of an active breeding season during the austral summer. Adult sex ratio was 1.3:1.0 (F:M). Floating gas vesicles of benthic Sargassum spp. and petroleum lumps were used by females for egg-laying.
Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. junedias@usp.br
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D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D020062:Heteroptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011156:Population Density; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012621:Seasons; D012623:Seawater