REVISION OF THE SUBFAMILY HELOPHORINAE OF THE NEARCTIC REGION (COLEOPTERA: HYDROPHILIDAE)

Abstract

Abstract A revision of the hydrophilid subfamily Helophorinae (Coleoptera), containing the single genus Helophorus Fabricius 1775, is presented, including an historical review, a discussion of diagnostic characters and techniques, and an attempt at a phylogenetic reconstruction of the major lineages of the Nearctic Helophorus .Forty-one species are recognized; 9 species and 1 subspecies are described as new. Atractohelophorus Kuweit 1886 is placed in synonymy with Rhopalelophorus Kuwert 1886, and Megahelophorus Kuwert 1886 with Helophorus Fabricius 1775. On the specific level H . ventralis Motschulsky 1860 and H . obsoletesulcatus Motschulsky 1860 are placed in synonymy with H . lineatus Say 1823.A neotype is designated for H . lineatus Say.Lectotypes are designated for H . oblongus LeC., H . fortis LeC., H . regularis Sharp, H . lacustris LeC., and H . alternatus LeC.The genus Helophorus is described and the nomenclatorial and taxpnomic problems surrounding it are discussed in detail. Keys to subgenera and species are provided. Each subgenus is described; each species is described and illustrated, all available bionomic and distributional data are presented, and distributional records are mapped.