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.

Taxonomy

The genus Helobata was described for the first time by Ernst Evald Bergroth in 1888.
It belongs in the subfamily Acidocerinae and contains 13 described species.

Description

Medium-sized beetles, 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.

Habitat

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

Species

The genus includes the following species:
  1. Helobata amazonensis Clarkson, Santos & Ferreira-Jr, 2016: Brazil
  2. Helobata aschnakiranae Makhan, 2007: Suriname
  3. Helobata bitriangulata García, 2000: Venezuela
  4. Helobata confusa Fernández & Bachmann, 1987: Argentina, Paraguay
  5. Helobata corumbaensis Fernández & Bachmann, 1987: Brazil
  6. Helobata cossyphoides : Argentina
  7. Helobata cuivaum García, 2000: Venezuela
  8. Helobata larvalis : Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Venezuela. U.S.A..
  9. Helobata lilianae García, 2000: Venezuela
  10. Helobata pantaneira Clarkson, Santos & Ferreira-Jr, 2016: Brazil
  11. Helobata perpunctata Fernández & Bachmann, 1987: Argentina
  12. Helobata quatipuru Fernández & Bachmann, 1987: Brazil
  13. Helobata soesilae Makhan, 2007: Suriname