The species of pygmy backswimmers Plea cryptica Raupach, Charzinski & Hendrich, 2024 is recorded for the first time for Russia from the European part (Yaroslavl, Lipetsk, Kursk and Voronezh oblasts) and Western Siberia (Tyumen Oblast), based on material formerly identified as Plea minutissima Leach, 1817. It is proposed that all Russian records of the latter species represent Plea cryptica. Original photographs of the diagnostic characters of Plea cryptica are provided.
cryptic species, European Russia, new records, water bugs, Western Siberia
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