Helobata

Helobata is a mostly Neotropical genus of water scavenger beetles in the family Hydrophilidae. It contains 13 described species, one of which is broadly distributed, reaching North America.^[1][2][3]

Helobata
Dorsal view of Helobata larvalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Suborder:	Polyphaga
Infraorder:	Staphyliniformia
Family:	Hydrophilidae
Subfamily:	Acidocerinae
Genus:	Helobata Bergroth, 1888
Diversity
13 species

Taxonomy

The genus Helobata was described for the first time by Ernst Evald Bergroth in 1888.^[4]

It belongs in the subfamily Acidocerinae and contains 13 described species.

Description

Medium-sized beetles (4–7 mm), yellowish-brown to dark brown in coloration, with granulose surface, usually with a mottled or patterned appearance. The pronotum and elytra are flattened and broadly explanate. The maxillary palps are long. A complete diagnosis was presented by Girón and Short.^[1]

Habitat

According to Girón and Short "Species of Helobata occur primarily in open habitats with abundant vegetation".^[1]

Species

The genus includes the following species:

1. Helobata amazonensis Clarkson, Santos & Ferreira-Jr, 2016: Brazil (Amazonas, Roraima) ^[5]
2. Helobata aschnakiranae Makhan, 2007: Suriname^[6]
3. Helobata bitriangulata García, 2000: Venezuela^[7]
4. Helobata confusa Fernández & Bachmann, 1987: Argentina, Paraguay^[8]
5. Helobata corumbaensis Fernández & Bachmann, 1987: Brazil (Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul)^[8]
6. Helobata cossyphoides (Bruch, 1915): Argentina^[9]
7. Helobata cuivaum García, 2000: Venezuela^[7]
8. Helobata larvalis (Horn, 1873):^[10] Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil (Amazonas, Ceará, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais), Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Venezuela. U.S.A. (California, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia).
9. Helobata lilianae García, 2000: Venezuela^[7]
10. Helobata pantaneira Clarkson, Santos & Ferreira-Jr, 2016: Brazil (Mato Grosso) ^[5]
11. Helobata perpunctata Fernández & Bachmann, 1987: Argentina^[8]
12. Helobata quatipuru Fernández & Bachmann, 1987: Brazil (Minas Gerais, Pará, Rio de Janeiro) ^[8]
13. Helobata soesilae Makhan, 2007: Suriname^[6]