The new genus Callivelia is proposed to hold three Neotropical species previously held within Paravelia: type-species Callivelia conata (Hungerford), Callivelia taipiensis (Cheesman) and Callivelia bipunctata (Rodrigues, Moreira, Nieser, Chen Melo). Paravelia virtutis (Drake Harris) 1935 is synonymized under Callivelia taipiensis (Cheesman) 1926. In addition, a new species, C. anomala, is described from the Amazon Basin of Brazil. Additional distributional records are provided for the three previously described species treated, including the first country record for C. bipunctata in Paraguay. A key to the species of Callivelia is provided, accompanied by color habitus photographs for all three species, and additional photographs of key generic characters.
Keywords: Heteroptera, Semiaquatic bugs, South America, Mesoamerica, taxonomy.