Key to the nymphs of the Ephemeroptera species from Northwestern Argentina

Abstract

Species of the order Ephemeroptera are very common in the rivers and streams of northwestern Argentina (NWA), ranging from the Chaco  plain to the Puna and the high Andes, with significant diversity in the Yungas rainforest. Due to their role as good indicators of environmental changes, these insects are widely studied and used in environmental monitoring. The species-level diversity in NWA is well-known, with 68 species recorded so far. The aim of this work is to present a key for the nymphs of all species present in the region, serving as a tool for other studies requiring species identification in NWA. Although this key is designed for NWA (Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán, Catamarca, and Santiago del Estero), it can also be used with a high degree of reliability in La Rioja, Córdoba, San Luis, San Juan, and Mendoza, as well as in southern Bolivia (Tarija).