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The riffle beetle genus Hexanchorus Sharp, 1882 is distributed from Mexico to Argentina, forming an important component of the freshwater invertebrate fauna of Latin America. With 21 described species, Hexanchorus represents one of the most speciose Larainae genera, but its real diversity is likely much higher. We analysed material from a relatively small area in Ecuador, resulting in the first record of H. cordillierae for Ecuador and discovery of four new species and one subspecies: Hexanchorus virilis sp. n., Hexanchorus rostratus sp. n., Hexanchorus shepardi sp. n., Hexanchorus onorei sp. n. and Hexanchorus onorei sagittatus ssp. n. For delimiting and characterizing species, both morphological and molecular (mtCOI DNA barcodes) data were used. A distribution map of Hexanchorus species is provided based on published records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new riffle beetle is described and figured based on an exceptionally well-preserved individual preserved in Upper Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar. Cretohypsilara parva gen. et sp. nov. is undoubtedly placed in the extant beetle family Elmidae, not assigned to a precise subfamily, though it represents the first record of a fossil riffle beetle possessing characteristics of the subfamily Larainae, including elongate subovate body covered with dense pubescence, clubbed antennae, and exposed protrochantins. It represents the oldest definitive record for the family, based on genitalic morphology, long claws, and the distinctive expanded prosternum. This Cretaceous riffle beetle is also probably a true water beetle, living in running water, providing information about the poorly known aquatic beetle fauna in the Mesozoic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elmidae, commonly called riffle beetles, includes small to medium sized aquatic beetles. Elmids are common in running waters with high oxygen content, making them good indicators of water quality. This family shows a worldwide distribution, being more diverse in the Neotropical region, with 46 described genera and about 435 species. This paper summarizes all known information about Elmidae from the Neotropical Region. This contribution presents updated data on the distribution of riffles beetles, the number of species described by genera and country, and a list of species with known larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A key for the adults of all South American genera of the family Elmidae is provided. The key includes nine genera presently assigned to the subfamily Larainae and 29 genera assigned to the subfamily Elminae. Distributional data for all genera are also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The larva of the genus Pharceonus is described for the first time from material collected in Costa Rica and Peru. These are the most northern and southern distribution records for this genus, which was previously known from just one species, Pharceonus volcanus Spangler et Santiago-Fragoso 1992, from Panama. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]