New record of riffle bug Rhagovelia (Neorhagovelia) nilgiriensis Thirumalai, 1994 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Veliidae) from Kerala, India

Abstract

The riffle bug, Rhagovelia (Neorhagovelia) nilgiriensis Thirumalai, 1994 is reported for the first time from Kerala. They are very small, black bugs, commonly encountered in streams with moderate to swift flow. The current report of R. nilgiriensis from Kerala extends its geographic distribution which was earlier reported only from its type locality Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India. The present inventory is crucial, as it is the pioneer report of nilgiriensis from Kerala and the second record of the same from India.