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Dynamis Chevrolat, 1883
Diagnosis: Large, 23-35 mm in total body length; elongate-oval in form, uniformly black; antennal funicle of 6 articles, apex extended well beyond posterior margin of eye; rostrum glabrous; anterior margin of pronotum straight behind eye; tarsus of 5 articles, but article 4 small, located at very base of article 3, article 3 wider than 2 and bilobed ventrally; front coxae separated; pygydium broadly exposed beyond elytra; metepisternum very broad, length about twice width; scutellum small, acuminate apically, lacking long apical extension.
Natural history: Adults of Dynamis are associated with various palms (Aracaceae). Details of the biology are known only for D. borassi in Brazil (Wattanapongsiri, 1966).
Diversity: Three species of Dynamis are known from Central and South America. Two species are found in Costa Rica and Panama.
Dynamis borassi (Fabricius)
Dynamis peropacus Champion
| Key to species of Dynamis in Costa Rica and Panama | ||
| 1 | Rostrum with gular suture narrow, distinct; antennal scrobe open ventrally, in lateral view reaching ventral margin of rostrum; eyes separated by at least one-half width of rostrum at base | Dynamis borassi (Fabricius) |
| - Rostrum with gular suture wide, indistinct to obsolete; antennal scrobe closed ventrally, in lateral view not reaching ventral margin of rostrum; eyes separated by at less than one-third width of rostrum at base | Dynamis peropacus Champion |
Distribution: Panama; also in South America.
Natural history: In Brazil, adults oviposit in the
terminal tissues of various species of Cocos (coconut palms). After hatching,
larvae tunnel downward until they reach the base of the trunk where they
complete development. The complete life cycle requires 6 months. This
species seems to prefer living terminal tissues for oviposition, and is
thus thought to be more harmful than the similar Rhynchophorus palmarum.
Distribution: Costa Rica, Nicaragua; also in South America.
Natural history: No significant information.
