The biogeography of semiaquatic Heteroptera of Thailand

The topography of Thailand is characterized by low-lying agriculture lands abruptly punctuated by discontinuous mountain ranges, with their associated streams and aquatic insect communities. Common members of these communities include Gerridae, Hebridae, Hydrometridae, Mesoveliidae, and Veliidae. One hundred and forty six species representing 36 genera were collected from Thailand, including 51 undescribed species and seven new country records. The similarity of freshwater semiaquatic bug communities was examined among isolated western mountain ranges and between lowlands above and below of the northern limit of Isthmus of Kra (Project 1), and separately among isolated mountain ranges in different regions of Thailand (Project 2). Concordance in biogeographic patterns among mountain ranges was evaluated using two-way indicator species analysis and cluster analysis.