Helobata

Distinguished from other hydrophilid genera by the combination of: flattened and broadly explanate pronotum and elytra; long maxillary palps; granulose body surface with mottled patterning; and small to medium size (4–7 mm). A complete diagnostic treatment is provided by Girón and Short. Within the genus, species identification requires examination of detailed morphological characters addressed in species-level keys.

Medium-sized beetles measuring 4–7 mm in length. Coloration ranges from yellowish-brown to dark brown. The body surface is granulose and typically exhibits a mottled or patterned appearance. The pronotum and elytra are flattened and broadly explanate (laterally expanded). The maxillary palps are notably long.

Primarily occurs in open habitats with abundant vegetation. Aquatic or semi-aquatic environments typical of water scavenger beetles.

Predominantly Neotropical. Distributed across South America including Brazil (Amazonas, Roraima, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Rio de Janeiro, Ceará, Goiás), Argentina, Paraguay, Venezuela, Suriname, Bolivia, and additionally recorded in Central America (Guatemala, Cuba, Mexico) and North America (USA: California, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia). The North American distribution is attributable to H. larvalis. Colombian records exist from Arauca and Santander departments.

• Other Acidocerinae generaHelobata is distinguished within Acidocerinae by its flattened, explanate body form and long maxillary palps; other genera in the subfamily typically lack this combination of traits

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• On Brazilian Helobata Bergroth, 1888 (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) II: new distribution data