Revision of the oriental bamboo-inhabiting semiaquatic bug genus Lathriovelia Andersen, 1989 (Heteroptera: Veliidae) with description of L. rickmersi, new species, and notes on the genus Baptista Distant, 1903

The Oriental semiaquatic bug genus Lathriovelia Andersen is revised. A comparison is made with the closely related genus Baptista Distant. A new species, L. rickmersi, is described and L. collaris Andersen transferred to Baptista. Lathriovelia at present contains two species, L. capitata Andersen from Peninsular Malaysia and L. rickmersi, new species, occurring in Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sumatra. Both Microveliinae inhabit water-filled internode cavities of various bamboo species. The bugs enter the internodes through small holes in the culm wall bored by insects or woodpeckers. The highest internode colonized by a Lathriovelia was 18 m above ground. Both species mainly feed on collembolans or insects trapped on the water surface.