A New Species of Spelaeometra Polhemus & Ferreira, 2018 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Hydrometridae) from a Hotspot of Troglobites in Brazil, Serra do Ramalho Karst Area †

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Water measurers (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Hydrometridae) can be found mainly on marginal vegetation or on plants on the surface of freshwater bodies. Recently, two monotypic genera restricted to subterranean habitats were described from Brazil, namely Cephalometra Polhemus & Ferreira, 2018 and Spelaeometra Polhemus & Ferreira, 2018. Here, a second species of Spelaeometra is described based on material collected in a hotspot of subterranean animals in the Serra do Ramalho karst area, Brazil. ABSTRACT: Spelaeometra Polhemus & Ferreira, 2018 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Hydrometridae) is a monotypic and troglobitic genus, recently described based on material collected in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. From specimens collected in the Gruna do Enfurnado Cave in the Serra do Ramalho karst area, municipality of Coribe, state of Bahia, Brazil, we describe Spelaeometra hypogea Cordeiro & Moreira, sp. nov. and compare it with Spelaeometra gruta Polhemus & Ferreira, 2018. The new species is diagnosed by the general body color being pale-yellow to light-brown; antennal segments I and II being subequal in length; the reduced gular lobe, not covering any labial segment; the male proctiger without apical projections; and the male paramere with convex dorsal margin after the curvature, with a narrow hook-like apex.