Helophorus

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Helophorus
Temporal range: Late Jurassic–Recent
Helophorus aquaticus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Infraorder: Staphyliniformia
Superfamily: Hydrophiloidea
Family: Helophoridae
Leach, 1815
Genus: Helophorus
Fabricius, 1775
Species

see text

Helophorus grandis

Helophorus is the only genus in the

Indomalayan region (northern India).[1][2]

Characteristics

Length about 2–9 mm. Body elongate with outline more or less interrupted between

elytra. On pronotum they have granulate sculpture and unique pattern of 7 longitudinal grooves. Ventral surface is with fine microsculpture, pubescent. Larvae are with long 3 segmented urogomphi and simple (non lobate) 8th tergum. They have four-segmented legs and a 10 segmented abdomen (with the 10th segment being a bit reduced).[3]

Ecology

The majority of Helophorus species adults are aquatic live on the periphery of rivers and streams as well as stagnant bodies of water or pools, though a number are also terrestrial. Adults generally feed on decaying plant material, though some are known to feed on living plant tissue, with several species noted as pests of

turnips. The larvae are terrestrial and are predominantly carnivores, though in some species are herviorous, and are pests of turnips, rutabaga, and wheat.[4]

Systematics and evolution

Helophoridae belong to the superfamily

Earlier systems included all of these families in the family Hydrophilidae. The genus is divided into many subgenera (Atracthelophorus, Cyphelophorus, Empleurus, Eutrichelophorus, Gephelophorus, Helophorus, Orphelophorus, Rhopalohelophorus and Transithelophorus). The oldest fossils of Helophorus are from the Late Jurassic of Asia, with the major clades of extant Helophorus likely diverging from each other during the Early Cretaceous.[7]

There are about 180 living species, including:

References

  1. ^ Angus R.B., 1992. Insecta: Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae: Helophorinae, pp. XI + 144. In: Schwoerbel J. & Zwick P. (eds.), Süsswasserfauna von Mitteleuropa, Band 20/10-2. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Heidelberg, Berlin
  2. ^ Mart, A, Erman, O., A Study on Helophorus Fabricius, 1775 (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae) Species. Turk. J. Zool. 25 (2001) 35-40
  3. ^ M.Hansen. Phylogeny and classification of the staphyliniform beetle families (Coleoptera). Biologiske Skrifter 48, Copenhagen, 1997
  4. ^ "12. Hydrophiloidea Latreille, 1802". Volume 1 Coleoptera, Beetles. Morphology and Systematics, edited by Rolf G. Beutel and Richard A.B. Leschen, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, 2016, pp. 231-272.
  5. ^ E.Anton, R.G.Beutel, On the Head Morphology and Systematic Position of Helophorus (Coleoptera: Hydrophiloidea: Helophoridae.)Zoologischer Anzeiger, Vol.242, 4, 2004
  6. ^ M.S.Caterino et al. On the constitution and phylogeny of Staphyliniformia (Insecta: Coleoptera), Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Vol.34 - 3, 2005
  7. S2CID 86311781
    .