order
                        
                      
                                    Coleoptera
                                       “Adult Beetles”
                                  
                                    Coleoptera
                                       “Larval Beetles”
                                  
                                    Diptera
                                       “True Flies”
                                  
                                    Ephemeroptera
                                       “Mayflies”
                                  
                                    Hemiptera
                                       “True Bugs”
                                  
                                    Lepidoptera
                                       “Aquatic Caterpillars, Snout Moths”
                                  
                                    Megaloptera
                                       “Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies”
                                  
                                    Odonata
                                       “Dragonflies and Damselflies”
                                  
                                    Plecoptera
                                       “Stoneflies”
                                  
                                    Trichoptera
                                       “Caddisflies”
                                 family
                        
                     Dryopidae
               
            genus
                     Helichus
            
                  “Long-toed Water Beetles”
               
      Genus Overview
                  
               
                        This is a widespread genus with 7 North American species. Adults are clingers in fast water, feeding generally as scrapers and shredders-herbivores.
                  
               Characteristics
                  
               POLLUTION TOLERANCE
                        Southeast: 5.4 and higher
                                 Upper Midwest: 5 and higher
                                 Midwest: 3.2 and higher
                                 Mid-Atlantic: 5 and higher
                              0 = least tolerant, 10 = most tolerant
                        FEEDING HABITS
                        
                                 Scraper / Grazer
Shredder / Herbivore
                        
                     Shredder / Herbivore
MOVEMENT
                        
                                 Climber
Clinger
                        
                     Clinger
DISTRIBUTION
                        
                                 Widespread (east of the Rocky Mtns.)
                        
                     HABITAT
                        
                                 Lentic-littoral
Lotic-erosional
                        
                     Lotic-erosional
Diagnostic Characters
               order
                         
                                       
                                       
                                    Elytra
                                 family
                         
                                       
                                       
                                    Head Partially Hidden
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Transverse Coxae
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Unique Antenna
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Visible Trochantins
                                 genus
                         
                                       
                                       
                                    Pubescence of Elytra
                                 
                  + Expanded Character List
                  
                     
               
            
                        Order:
                           Adults with hardened forewings (elytra) covering the hind wings. 
                     
                     
                        Family:
                           Head usually partially contracted into thorax. Each antenna 11-segmented, usually with enlarged basal segment and expanded 2nd segment covering remaining antennal segments folded beneath it. Prosternum expanded anteriorly as prominent lobe beneath head. Elytra concealing entire abdomen or exposing only part of one abdominal tergite. All tarsi 5-segmented. Forelegs with transverse coxae and visible trochantins, unlike Elmidae. Hind coxae not touching. Abdomen 5- or 6-segmented.
                     
                     
                        Genus:
                           Antennae widely separated at bases. 2nd antennal segment enlarged, and shield-like, protecting remaining segments which may be retracted beneath it. Pronotum without groove near lateral margin. Parts of body and legs with fine wooly hair. Hairiness of last abdominal sternite different from other sternites, often bare. 
                     
                   
                   
            Dorsal
               Ventral
               


