Helobata
# Helobata

Helobata is a mostly Neotropical genus of water scavenger beetle 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 (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.

## Habitat

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

## Species

The genus includes the following species:

* Helobata amazonensis Clarkson, Santos & Ferreira-Jr, 2016: Brazil (Amazonas, Roraima)
* Helobata aschnakiranae Makhan, 2007: Suriname
* Helobata bitriangulata García, 2000: Venezuela
* Helobata confusa Fernández & Bachmann, 1987: Argentina, Paraguay
* Helobata corumbaensis Fernández & Bachmann, 1987: Brazil (Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul)
* Helobata cossyphoides (Bruch, 1915): Argentina
* Helobata cuivaum García, 2000: Venezuela
* Helobata larvalis (Horn, 1873): 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).
* Helobata lilianae García, 2000: Venezuela
* Helobata pantaneira Clarkson, Santos & Ferreira-Jr, 2016: Brazil (Mato Grosso)
* Helobata perpunctata Fernández & Bachmann, 1987: Argentina
* Helobata quatipuru Fernández & Bachmann, 1987: Brazil (Minas Gerais, Pará, Rio de Janeiro)
* Helobata soesilae Makhan, 2007: Suriname
