This work was begun to provide keys to the aquatic insect species known from Brazil. The original goal was to include all genera known from South America and all species from Brazil, but for most groups, the scope was expanded to encompass all species in South America, and, in some cases, to include terrestrial species of orders comprising both terrestrial and aquatic taxa. In no case is a taxonomic revision of any group undertaken, although recommendations for such revisions are included where appropriate, and probable synonymy of nominal species still treated as valid in the literature is noted. Two different approaches will be employed according to the taxon being treated. For phylogenetic groups encompassing overwhelmingly or exclusively aquatic species, such as the orders Plecoptera and Ephemeroptera or the families Dytiscidae and Culicidae, keys are provided to distinguish all genera and species known to occur in South America. An effort has been made to include every identifiable species so that the user ofthe key can determine with reasonable certainty whether or not his specimen belongs to a species that has already been described or whether it is one that is not yet known to science. Where feasible, complete keys will be prepared for groups containing both aquatic and terrestrial species that do not encompass an extraordinarily large number ofspecies. This has already been done for the order Collembola.

This work was begun to provide keys to the aquatic insect species known from Brazil. The original goal was to include all genera known from South America and all species from Brazil, but for most groups, the scope was expanded to encompass all species in South America, and, in some cases, to include terrestrial species of orders comprising both terrestrial and aquatic taxa. In no case is a taxonomic rev1s10n of any group undertaken, although recommendations for such revisions are included where appropriate, and probable synonymy of nominal species still treated as valid in the literature is noted. Two different approaches will be employed according to the taxon being treated. For phylogenetic groups encompassing overwhelmingly or exclusively aquatic species, such as the orders Plecoptera and Ephemeroptera or the families Dytiscidae and Culicidae, keys are provided to distinguish all genera and species known to occur in South America. An effort has been made to include every identifiable species so that the user of the key can determine with reasonable certainty whether or not his specimen belongs to a species that has already been described or whether it is one that is not yet known to science. Where feasible, complete keys will be prepared for groups containing both aquatic and terrestrial species that do not encompass an extraordinarily large number of species. This has already been done for the order Collembola.

For many years, students from numerous countries have complained about the lack of "tools" to identify aquatic invertebrates from Latin America. Keys found in accepted textbooks are mostly limited, superficial or too popular-science. On the other hand, more advanced keys in academic books on aquatic invertebrates fail to cover Neotropical representatives in due detail. The few that do, however, also show too many defects in scope and presentation to be considered up-to-date. An international team of editors combined their efforts with Pensoft Publishers to launch a new major series on the aquatic biodiversity of Latin America. About 15 monographs, written by scientists from various countries, will offer a new, unrivalled view of the marvellous aquatic world of South America! The series is addressed to zoologists, ecologists, hydrobiologists, biogeographers, conservationists and students interested in aquatic biodiversity. The series will be an imminent tool for any biological library. This book covers all known (14) families, (103) genera and (470) species of the insect order Ephemeroptera from continental South America. It includes updated keys (in English and Spanish) to separate families, genera and species (when possible), as well as complete reference data on each taxon, considering its status, characters, biology and distribution. The book is addressed to specialists in systematics, ecologists, limnologists and biologists in general.

00 This is the first comprehensive guide to insect life in a part of the world known for its abundant, and endangered, life forms. Charles Hogue's scholarship embraces vast geographical territory--Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Color photographs and first-rate drawings illustrate the clearly written text. This is the first comprehensive guide to insect life in a part of the world known for its abundant, and endangered, life forms. Charles Hogue's scholarship embraces vast geographical territory--Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Color photographs and first-rate drawings illustrate the clearly written text.