Checklist and distribution of Nepomorpha (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from China.

An updated catalog of the infraorder Nepomorpha from China is provided based on literature reports, museum specimens, and field collections. In total, 214 species of Nepomorpha are listed in 6 superfamilies, 11 families, and 37 genera, including: Aphelocheiridae (1 genus, 27 species), Belostomatidae (3 genera, 7 species), Corixidae (9 genera, 52 species), Gelastocoridae (1 genus, 3 species), Helotrephidae (5 genera, 25 species), Micronectidae (1 genus, 28 species), Naucoridae (7 genera, 12 species), Nepidae (5 genera, 21 species), Notonectidae (4 genera, 32 species), Ochteridae (1 genus, 2 species) and Pleidae (1 genus, 5 species). Paraplea liturata (Fieber, 1844) is reported from mainland China for the first time. Distribution maps are provided for most species and are based on museum specimens and our field collections.

Phylogeny and historical biogeography of the water boatmen (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Nepomorpha: Corixoidea).

The water boatmen of Corixoidea, a group of aquatic bugs with more than 600 extant species, is one of the largest superfamilies of Nepomorpha. Contrary to the other nepomorphan lineages, the Corixoidea are most diverse in the Laurasian remnant Holarctic region. To explicitly test whether the present-day Holarctic distribution of diverse corixids is associated with the arising of the Laurasian landmass that was separated from Gondwana, we investigated the phylogeny, divergence times and historical biogeography of Corixoidea based on morphological and molecular characters sampled from 122 taxa representing all families, subfamilies, tribes and approximately 54 % of the genera. Our results were largely congruent with the phylogenetic relationships within the established nepomorphan phylogenetic context. The fossil calibrated chronogram, diversification analysis and ancestral ranges reconstruction indicated that Corixoidea began to diversify in Gondwana in the late Triassic approximately at 224 Ma and the arising of the most diverse subfamily Corixinae in Corixidae in the Holarctic region was largely congruent with the time of separation of Laurasia from Gondwana. The large-scale expansion of the temperate and cold zones on the northward-moving Laurasian landmass after the breakup of the Pangea provided new aquatic niches and ecological opportunities for promoting rapid diversification for the Holarctic corixid lineage.

Report on antennal sensilla of Aphelocheirus ellipsoideus (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Aphelocheiridae).

The comparative morphology study on antennal sensilla of Aphelocheirus ellipsoideus from the family Aphelocheiridae, carried out with the use of a scanning electron microscope, is provided. Five main types of mechano-, chemo-, and thermo-hygroreceptive sensilla with two subtypes of sensilla basiconica were found and described on their surface, including sensilla trichodea, campaniformia, basiconica, ampullacea, and plate-like. Antennal sensilla of A. ellipsoideus on macropterous and brachypterous forms were different.

A new species of the genus Cenocorixa (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Corixidae) from China.

A new species of the genus Cenocorixa Hungerford (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Corixidae) is described from China. Cenocorixayuanjiangensis sp. nov. is reported from Yunnan Province. An updated key to the Chinese species of Cenocorixa is presented.

Notes on some toad bugs from China (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Gelastocoridae).

The three species of Nerthra Say, 1832 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gelastocoridae) occurring in China are reviewed. Dorsal habitus photographs of the two species, Nerthra asiatica (Horváth, 1892) and Nerthra indica (Atkinson, 1889), are provided, accompanied by illustrations of male genitalic structures and female ventral aspect of posterior abdominal segments. The male of Nerthra asiatica is recorded and reviewed for the first time.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Nepa hoffmanni (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Nepidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome (mt-genome) of Nepa hoffmanni has been reported in this study. This mitochondrial genome is 15 774 bp long, with an A + T content of 72.04%, containing the typical 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes, and two ribosomal RNA genes) and a control region. All genes are arranged in the same gene order as most other known heteropteran mt-genome. This is the second completely sequenced mt-genome from the family Nepidae of Nepomorpha. Bayesian analyses were performed using the mt-genome of Nepa hoffmanni and its relatives, including 17 taxa, showing a reasonable placement of Nepa hoffmanni.

A new species and notes on the genus Aphelocheirus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aphelocheiridae) from China.

This paper provides the description of a new species, Aphelocheirus menglaensis sp.nov. from Yunnan Province. A. gularis Horváth, 1918 and A. inops (Horváth, 1918) are reported from China for the first time. We also reviewed A. ellipsoideus Liu & Ding, 2005, include its macropterous forms and brachypterous female. Dorsal habitus photographs of the new species and A. ellipsoideus are provided and are accompanied by illustrations of male genitalic structures of both species and the ventral aspect of posterior abdominal segments of the female of only the new species.

The creeping water bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Naucoridae) of China, with description of a new species.

This paper provides description of a new species, Cheirochela grossa sp. nov. from Yunnan Province. Cheirochela tonkina Polhemus, Polhemus & Sites, 2008, Heleocoris bengalensis montandoni Lundblad, 1933 and Thurselinus scutellaris (Stål, 1860) are reported from China for the first time. The checklist and a key to the species of Naucoridae of China are given. Dorsal habitus photographs of the species are provided, accompanied by illustrations of male genitalic structures and female ventral aspect of posterior abdominal segments (new species). 

Two new species and three new records of the genus Aphelocheirus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aphelocheiridae) from China.

Two new species of the genus Aphelocheirus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aphelocheiridae), A. longlingensis sp. nov. from Yunnan and A. motuoensis sp. nov. from Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region are described in this paper. A. similaris Polhemus & Polhemus, 1989, A. nawae Nawa, 1905 and A. tuberculipes Zettel & Tran, 2009 are reported from China for the first time. A key to Chinese species of Aphelocheirus is given. Dorsal habitus photographs of the species are provided, accompanied by illustrations of male genitalic structures, inner projection and female ventral aspect of posterior abdominal segments.