Morphology of the ovipositor in the genus Neoplea, Esaki and China, 1928 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pleidae), including an evaluation of its taxonomic importance

Pleids (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pleidae) are globally distributed minute, semiaquatic insects.  The group has a history of taxonomic uncertainty, beginning when it was raised to family status (Fieber 1951).  This taxonomic confusion extends to the genus Neoplea, and is largely due to the use of highly variable characters to delineate species.  Drake and Chapman (1953) suggested several, potentially less variable, characters to support a more stable taxonomy, but none have seriously been investigated.  Here we describe the morphology of the ovipositor, evaluate its taxonomic usefulness, and provide evidence for the separation of Neoplea striola and N. harnedi.