Survey of the Dynastine Beetles of Costa Rica and Panama

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This project supports a biological survey of the dynastine scarab beetles of Costa Rica and Panama. Dynastines are prominent elements of the entomofauna as a result of their rich diversity, numbers and, in some instances, their size and body form; these are the rhinoceros or unicorn beetles of the tropics. The subfamily Dynastinae in Costa Rica and Panama consists of 32 genera and approximately 161 species with new species awaiting description. The objectives of the project are to (1) study the Dynastinae already residing in research collections in Costa Rica, Panama, and North America, (2) collect intensively in numerous localities and different seasons in Costa Rica and Panama (primarily at light traps, flight intercept traps and in rotting logs), (3) assemble and deposit authoritatively identified collections in Costa Rica, Panama, and the United States, (4) make available to others duplicate specimens, and (5) publish a monographic survey of this group as it exists in Costa Rica and Panama. Included in the monograph will be bilingual identification keys to all taxa, descriptions of all taxa, geographic and temporal distributions, ecological and life history data, biogeographical data, and numerous illustrations. The project is significant because it will provide the first extensive documentation on all aspects of these beetles as they occur in Central America. This kind of detailed treatment of Dynastinae has never been done for any mainland country in Latin America. The study will also provide a sound taxonomic basis for all future studies on these beetles. Future studies dealing with biogeography, phylogenetic inferences, and ecological relationships can only be accomplished with the kind of data gathered in this proposed survey.