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Rhinostomus Rafinesque, 1815
Diagnosis: Small to large, 7-40 mm in total body length; elongate-narrow in form, uniformly black; rostrum more or less straight; mandibles large, divaricate, divergent, with distinct teeth on outer edge; antennal funicle of 6 articles, apex just reaching anterior margin of eye; 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 largely covered by elytra.
Natural history: Adults are collected most frequently at lights but are also associated with trunks of various species of dead or dying palms.
Diversity: Four species of Rhinostomus are known from Central and South America. Two species are found in Costa Rica and Panama.
Rhinostomus barbirostris (Fabricius)
Rhinostomus thompsoni Vaurie
| Key to species of Rhinostomus in Costa Rica and Panama | ||
| 1 | Antenna with club long and slender, length many times width; elytra striae distinctly and deeply punctate, intervals lacking micropilose nodules; front tibia with 2-4 long acute spines on inner face; male with characteristic very long, dense golden hairs on apical portion and venter of rostrum and on prosternum | R. barbirostris (Fabricius) |
| - Antenna with club short and stout, length about twice width; elytra striae shallowly punctate, intervals with scattered micropilose nodules; front tibia with numerous short, blunt teeth on inner face; male with no distinct long golden pilosity | R. thompsoni Vaurie | |
Rhinostomus barbirostris (Fabricius)
Distribution: Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Panama; also in South America.
Natural history: This common and widespread species is known as the bottlebrush weevil. It seems to be associated with older, injured or dying palms and is not a primary palm pest. Ferreira and Morin (1984) report on the biology of this species on coconut palms in Brazil.
Eberhard (1983) studied the behaviour of this species, in particular the role of the male “bearded” rostrum and prosternum, and elongated front legs in sexual selection.
Distribution: Costa Rica and Panama; also in South America.
Natural history: No significant information.
