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West Indian Dynastinae

Michael A. Ivie and Brett C. Ratcliffe

Introduction

The Dynastinae are moderate to very large beetles, the larvae mostly feeding on dead vegetable material, from dead sugarcane stools to rotten logs. Because of their occasional abundance in cane fields several have well studied life histories, and a plethora of common names have been given to this group. In the end, though, they have been exonerated from impacts on the West Indian sugarcane industry (Smyth 1920; Wolcott 1951), where they are known as a group as "black hard-backs," to distinguish them from the destructive "brown hard-backs" of the genus Phylophaga (Melolonthinae).

The largest beetle in the West Indies, and one of the largest in the World -- Dynastes hercules Linnaeus -- belongs to this group. As befits such a large animal, a whole folklore has developed around this giant (Cartwright & Chalumeau 1978: 26).

The subfamily is world-wide in distribution, but nearly half of the world total species is from the Neotropical region. Endrödi (1985) divided the group among 8 tribes -- the Cyclocephalini, Oryctoderini, Agaocephalini, Pentadontini, Oryctini, Dynastini, Hexadontini, and Phileurini. All but the Hexadontini (Madagascar) and Oryctoderini (Australasia) are represented in the West Indies.

Endrödi (1985) reviewed the world fauna, providing keys to all 1,366 species known up to that time, although there were several errors and omissions (Ratcliffe 1989). Since Endrödi (1985) keys all species described before 1985 (with rare exceptions) keys are only listed for subsequent, regional, or more workable keys. The main Endrödi (1985) reference under Distribution to will take the reader to his key.

The West Indian fauna is suprisingly large and diverse, with 5 endemic genera (Planophileurus, Indieraligus, Calypsoryctes, Licnostrategus and Hispanioryctes), and 76 species (>10% of Neotropical species). In spite of a relatively mature taxonomy, large size, and popularity with collectors, dynastine species are still being regularly discovered in the West Indies (Ratcliffe & Ivie 1998). With 15 species recorded from Guadeloupe, 10 from Dominica, 5 from St. Vincent, and 6 from Grenada, the paucity of records from St. Lucia (1 species), Montserrat (0) and St. Kitts or Nevis (1 each), suggests that more are still to come.

CHECKLIST

Cyclocephalini

Mimeoma signatoies Höhne 1923:346

Cuba, North and South America (Blackwelder 1944: 250; Endrödi 1985: 156)

Illustrations: Endrödi 1985: 30 (elytral pattern), 156 (aedeagus), 157 (protarsal claw, female elytron)

Mimeoma nigra Endrödi 1979: 217

Hispainola (Endrödi 1985: 739)

Illustrations: Endrödi 1979: fig. 3; Endrödi 1985: 738.

Cyclocephala amazonica signata (Fabricius 1781: 39)

Cuba, Jamaica, Barbados, Grenada, South American islands (Blackwelder, 1944: 252 ; Endrödi 1985: 65-66, 132.

[Blackwelder's Cuban records only for C. notata, transfered by Endrödi 1985 because of the mistaken syn of C. amazona Drury?. Blackwelder's C. signata record for Jamaica dropped by Endrödi 1985]

Illustrations: Endrödi 1985: 21 (female elytra), 29 (pronotal pattern), 30 (male elytron), 65 (aedeagus), Plate I (habitus).

Cyclocephala atricolor Chapin 1932: 289

Cuba* (Blackwelder 1944: 251; Endrödi 1985: 28-29, 32, 131)

Illustration: Endrödi 1985: 32 (aedeagus)

Cyclocephala cardini Chapin 1935: 74

syn C. signatoides Chapin 1932: 287

Cuba (Blackwelder 1944: 251; Endrödi 1985: 64, 131)

Illustration: Endrödi 1985: 65 (aedeagus)

Cyclocephala cubana Chapin 1932: 291

syn C. signata of authors (in part), Cyclocephala frontalis Chevrolat 1844: 90 not Burmeister.

Cuba* (Blackwelder 1944: 251; Endrödi 1985: 57, 130)

Illustrations: Endrödi 1985: 30 (elytral pattern), 58 (aedeagus).

Cyclocephala dispar (Herbst 1792: 73)

Puerto Rico, South America (Endrödi 1985: 91, 139)

Illustrations: Endrödi 1985: 31 (elytral pattern), 91 (aedeagus)

Cyclocephala fusiformis Chapin 1932: 287

Isla de la Juventud (Blackwelder 1944: 251; Endrödi 1985: 131).

Endrödi (1985) listed only Cuba for this species, but we assume he meant it in the sense of the nation of Cuba, not the island, as the only specimen in the literature is from Cuba's Isla de la Juventud, and he included only the female and a single measurement in his key.

Cyclocephala immaculata Olivier (1789: 29)

syn. Cyclocephala danforthi Chapin 1935: 69

Anegada**, St. Barthélemy, St. Martin, St. Kitts (Arrow 1942), Guadeloupe, Desirade South America (Blackwelder 1944: 251 [part]; Chalumeau 1983: 143; Endrödi 1985: 101)

Bahamian and North American records of Blackwelder 1944: 251) belong to C. tenuicutis Casey (Chalumeau 1983:145), currently placed as a synonym of C. lurida Bland 1863. South American records of Endrödi (1983) are placed in a separate subspecies, C. immaculata ferruginea (Fabricius).

Illustrations: Chalumeau 1983: 144 (head, pronotum and foreleg), 148 (aedeagus); Endrödi 1985: 101 (aedaegus).

Cyclocephala insulicola Arrow 1937: 40

Guadeloupe (Blackwelder 1944: 251; Chalumeau 1983: 147; Endrödi 1985: 35, 116)

Illustration: Chalumeau 1983: 144 (head, pronotum and foreleg), 148 (aedeagus); Endrödi 1985: 34 (aedeagus)

Cyclocephala laevis Arrow 1937: 40

Hispaniola* (Blackwelder 1944: 251; Endrödi 1985: 67-68, 127)

Illustration: Endrödi 1985: 67 (aedeagus)

Cyclocephala sp.?

immaculata of Leng and Mutchler
tenuicutis Casey?
C. lurida Bland 1863?

Bahama Is.

Leng and Mutchler (1914: 441, repeated by Blackwelder 1944: 251) lists Bahama Is. and North American records for C. immaculata (Olivier), but Chalumeau (1983: 145) says the North American records are confused with C. tenuicutis Casey, which Endrödi lists as a synonym of C. lurida Bland 1863. Endrödi (1985: 107) does not mention the Bahama records under any of these names. Joly (pers. com.) says that tenuicutis is probably not a synonym of lurida. Given that the Bahamas are more likely to share a species with Florida or Cuba than the islands in the range of immaculata, the Bahamian record is placed here until the voucher can be located and reexamined. A large general Bahamian beetle collection
in the AMNH collected by L. Woodruff may be the source, as Leng and Mutchler were working out of the AMNH at the time their checklist was being produced.

Cyclocephala macrophylla Erichson 1847: 97

Antilles, Central & South America (Endrödi 1985: 100-101, 147)

Blackwelder (1944: 252) does not list this species from the West Indies, with only a Peru record.

Illustrations: Endrödi 1985: 100 (aedeagus)

Cyclocephala mafaffa Burmeister 1847: 69

syn. C. grandis Burmeister 1847:69

Guadeloupe*, St. Kitts, North, Central & South America (Blackwelder 1944: 251, 252; Chalumeau 1983: 141-143; Endrödi 1985: 85, 122)

Illustrations: Chalumeau 1983: 142 (habitus) Endrödi 1985: 31 (elytral pattern), 84 (aedeagus)

Cyclocephala melanocephala rubiginosa Burmeister 1847: 59

syn. Cyclocephala dimidiata Burmeister 1847: 57

Guadeloupe, Les Saintes, Marie-Galante, Dominica*, Martinique, Grenada? (Blackwelder 1944: 252; Cartwright & Chalumeau 1978: 25; Chalumeau 1983: 145-147; Endrödi 1985: 103, 141)

Blackwelder (1944: 251) listed Grenada with North and Central America under C. dimidiata, which Endrödi (1985: 102) states is a color abberation of C. melanocephala. Endrödi (1985), Cartwright & Chalumeau (1978), and Chalumeau (1983) listed the subspecies C. melanocephala rubiginosa only from the islands from Guadeloupe to Martinique. Whether the Grenadian record belongs in this subspecies or the South American is unknown.

Illustrations: Cartwright & Chalumeau 1978: 23 (habitus); Chalumeau 1983: 148 (aedeagus).

Cyclocephala notata (Illiger 1806: 235)

syn. C. amazona Drury, C. insularis Laporte, C. signata Olivier

Jamaica, Hispaniola* (Blackwelder 1944: 252; Endrödi 1985: 51, 130)

Cuban records of Blackwelder 1944: 252 apparently derive from his synonymy of. C. amazona Drury with C. notata, but Endrödi 1985 placed those records in C. amazonica (L.). Endrödi confused the names "Dominica" and "Dominican Republic" in his records for this species.

Illustrations: Endrödi 1985: 29 (pronotal pattern), 30 (elytral patterns), 50 (aedeagus)

Cyclocephala quisqueya Joly 1998: 50.

Hispaniola

Type Locality: Convento, 12 km S. Constanza, Dominican Republic.

Illustrations: Joly 1998: 49 (lateral view of head, maxilla, anterior tibia and tarsus), 51(posterior tibia and first tarsomere, elytra), 53 (clypeus, aedeagus).

Cyclocephala rangelana Chapin 1935: 75

Cuba (Blackwelder 1944: 252; Endrödi 1985: 51, 128)

Illustration: Endrödi 1985: 50 (aedeagus)

Cyclocephala rustica (Olivier 1789: 27)

Guadeloupe, South America (Blackwelder 1944: 252; Endrödi 1985: 35, 116)

Illustration: Endrödi 1985: 35 (aedeagus)

Cyclocephala sanguinicollis cerea Burmeister 1847: 51

Jamaica, Hispaniola* (Blackwelder 1944: 251 [as C. cerea]; Endrödi 1985: 114-115 [as C. sanguinicollis cerea], 142 [as C. sanguinicollis], 145 [as C. cerea).

Endrödi (1985) keys the males of this taxon as a subspecies, as listed above, listing Jamaica and Hispaniola in the distrubution. However, the females key out in 2 places, once as C. sanguinicollis (p. 142), including "Antilles" in the distribution, and again as C. cerea (p. 145), with only Jamaica in the distribution.

Illustrations: Endrödi 1985: 19, (clypeus), 114 (aedeagus)

Cyclocephala striata haitiensis Endrödi 1963: XX

Hispaniola* (Endrödi 1985: 68, 128)

Illustrations: Endrödi 1985: 67 (aedeagus)

Cyclocephala tetrica Burmeister 1847: 55

Jamaica* (Blackwelder 1944: 253; Endrödi 1985: 57, 128)

Illustration: Endrödi 1985: 56 (aedeagus)

Cyclocephala tridentata Fabricius 1801: 170

syn C. biliturata Gyllenhal 1817: 105

Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, Barbados, South America (Blackwelder 1944: 253; Cartwright & Chalumeau 1978: 25; Chalumeau 1983: 149; Endrödi 1985: 98-99, 138)

Cartwright & Chalumeau (in Chalumeau 1977) named a new subspecies (C. t. dominicensis Cartwright & Chalumeau [in Chalumeau 1977: 135]) for the Dominica populations, and but Chalumeau (1983) placed both the Guadeloupe and Martinique populations in the typical subspecies. Since the two French islands are on either side of Dominica, this situation seems more political than biological. Endrödi (1983) did not mention the subspecies. Chalumeau (1983) mentioned the close similarity of dominicensis to C. insulicola. A detailed analysis of the validity of these 3 closely related forms is needed. The status of the basically ignored Barbados and South American records also needs evalution.

Illustrations: Cartwright & Chalumeau 1978: 6 (habitus); Chalumeau 1983: 148 (aedeagus); Endrödi 1985: 99 (aedeagus).

Cyclocephala vidua Endrödi 1966: XXX

Hispaniola* (Endrödi 1985: 129)

Illustation: Endrödi 1985: 30 (elytral pattern), Plate II (habitus).

Cyclocephala vincentiae Arrow 1900: 180

St. Vincent (Blackwelder 1944: 253; Endrödi 1985: 34, 116)

Illustration: Endrödi 1985: 34 (aedeagus)

Cyclocephala vinosa Arrow 1937: 39

Jamaica* (Blackwelder 1944: 250; Endrödi 1985: 49, 126; Joly 1998: 46)

Illustrations: Joly 1998: 49 (lateral view of head, anterior tibia and tarsus), 51(posterior tibia and first tarsomere, elytra), 53 (clypeus, aedeagus).

Dyscinetus dubius (Olivier 1789: 32)

syn. D. frater Bates 1888: 312

Cuba, Isla de la Juventud, North, Central & South America (Blackwelder 1944: 253; Endrödi 1985: 168-169)

Endrödi (1985) did not specifically mention the West Indian records.

Illustrations: Endrödi 1985: 168 (aedeagus).

Dyscinetus imitator Ratcliffe 1986: 75

Grand Cayman* (Ratcliffe 1986: 75)

Illustrations: Ratcliffe 1986: 77 (aedeagus, protarsus)

Dyscinetus laevicollis Arrow 1937: 41

Jamaica, Hispaniola*, North America (Blackwelder 1944: 253; Endrödi 1985: 166)

Illustrations: Endrödi 1985: 165 (aedeagus)

Dyscinetus laevipunctatus minor Chapin 1935: 74

Cuba, Isla de la Juventud (Blackwelder 1944: 253; Endrödi 1985: 168).

Illustrations: Endrödi 1985: 168.

Dyscinetus morator Fabricius 1798: 24

Cuba, Puerto Rico, North America (Blackwelder 1944: 253; Wolcott 1951: 264)

Endrödi (1985) did not mention the West Indian records.

Illustrations: Endrödi 1985: 167 (aedeagus)

Dyscinetus picipes Burmeister 1847: 79

syn D. obsoletus LeConte 1854: 222; D. laevissimus Casey 1915: 167

Cuba, Isla de la Juventud, Bahama Is., Hispaniola, Puerto Rico*, Guadeloupe, Marie-Galante, North America (Blackwelder 1944: 253; Wolcott 1951: 264; Chalumeau 1983: 151-153; Endrödi 1985: 166-167)

Illustrations: Chalumeau 1983: 153 (habitus), Endrödi 1985: 167 (aedeagus). Joly (pers. com.) says that the illustration of the genitalia by Paulian is incorrect

Dyscinetus sp? Chalumeau described a Dyscinetus (Ratcliffe 1986),

is it West Indian?

Chalepides barbatus barbatus Fabricus 1787: 10

Cuba, Hispaniola*, Puerto Rico, St. Croix** (Blackwelder 1944: 253; Wolcott 1951: 263; Endrödi 1985: 172).Illustrations: Endrödi 1985: 172 (aedeagus).

Biology: Wolcott 1951: 263.

Stenocrates beckeri Howden 1970: 9

Jamaica (Endrödi 1985: 179)Illustrations: Howden 1970: 8 (aedeagus); Endrödi 1985: 178 (aedeagus).

Stenocrates davisorum Endrödi 1979: 217.

Jamaica (Endrödi 1985: 740-741)

Illustrations: Endrödi 1979: fig. 4; Endrödi 1985: 738.

Agaocephalini

Democrates croesus Newman 1836: 256

Jamaica*, Hispaniola (Blackwelder 1944: 260; Howden 1970: 14; Endrödi 1985: 209)

Illustration: Endrödi 1985: 209 (aedeagus)

Pentadontini

Indieraligus michelii Deschambre 1979: 102.

Puerto Rico (Endrödi 1985: 744)

Illustrations: Deschambre 1979: figs. 4-7; Endrödi 1985: 745.

Indieraligus bozzolai (Chalumeau 1981: 221).

as Endroedianibe bozzolai Chalumeau 1981: 221. Generic synonomy by Ratcliffe & Dechambre (1983: 267). Chalumeau (1985) disputed the generic placement.

Hispaniola (Endrödi 1985: 748)

Illustrations: Chalumeau 1981: figs. 1-4.

Ligyrus cuniculus Fabricus 1801: 20

syn. L. tumulosus Burmeister 1847: 101

Bahama Is., Andros, Cuba, Isla de la Juventud, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Mona, Puerto Rico*, St. Thomas*, St. John*, Guana**, St. Croix *, Buck Is. (St. Croix), Anguilla**, St. Barthélemy, St. Martin, Nevis, Guadeloupe, Marie-Galante, Désirade, Les Saintes, Martinique, Dominica, Barbados, St. Vincent, South America (Blackwelder 1944: 254, 255; Wolcott 1951: 264; Cartwright & Chalumeau 1978: 27; Chalumeau 1983: 154; Endrödi 1985: 255-256)

North & Central American records (Blackwelder 1944: 256) are dropped by Endrödi 1985: 256.

Illustration: Cartwright & Chalumeau 1978: 23 (habitus); Endrödi 1985: 255 (adeagus)

Ligyrus ebenus Degeer 1774: 317

Hispaniola, St. Martin, Guadeloupe, Marie-Galante, Dominica, Martinique, North & South America (Blackwelder 1944: 254, Cartwright & Chalumeau 1978: 26; Chalumeau 1983: 156).

The West Indian records are all dropped by Endrödi 1985: 254.

Illustration: Cartwright & Chalumeau 1978: 23 (habitus); Chalumeau 1983: 155 (aedeagus); Endrödi 1985: 254 (aedeagus).

Ligyrus fossor (Latreille 1833: 11)

Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, South America (Blackwelder 1944: 254; Wolcott 1951: 264; Endrödi 1985: 255)

Central American record (Blackwelder 1944: 254) is dropped by Endrödi (1985).

Illustration: Endrödi 1985: 255 (aedeagus)

Ligyrus nasutus (Burmeister 1847: 120)

Jamaica, North, Central America (Endrödi 1985: 257)

Blackwelder (1944) listed only mainland records.

Illustration: Endrödi 1985: 256.

Oryctini

Calypsoryctes dynastoides Howden 1970: 11

Jamaica (Endrödi 1985: 565)

Illustrations: Howden 1970: 8 (tarsus, aedeagus, female genitalia), 12 (head, habitus); Endrödi 1985: 564 (aedeagus), Plate 29 (habitus).

Hispanioryctes wittmeri Howden & Endrödi 1978: 388 (in Howden 1978)

Hispaniola, Soana** (Howden 1978: 388; Ratcliffe 1982: 356; Endrödi 1985: 601)

Illustrations: Howden 1978: 391 (head, pronotum, aedeagus); Endrödi 1985: 601 (aedeagus).

Strategus aenobarbus (Fabricus 1775: 10)

Navassa, Hispaniola* (Blackwelder 1944: 257; Ratcliffe 1976: 105; Endrödi 1985: 613 [as subspecies of S. ajax])

Illustrations: Ratcliffe 1976: 182 (habitus); 197 (aedeagus).

Strategus ajax Olivier 1789: 27

Great Exuma, Andros**, Cuba, Isla de la Juventud, Great Exuma (Blackwelder 1944: 257; Ratcliffe 1976: 106; Ratcliffe 1982: 355; Endrödi 1985: 613, 617).

No one has mentioned the Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Pines) record since Blackwelder (1944), but I assume it is correct. Ratcliffe (1976: 166) listed a variety of erroneous, rejected records, including mainland and Jamiacan records.

Illustrations: Ratcliffe 1976: 182 (habitus) 197 (aedeagus); Endrödi 1985: 612 (aedeagus), Plate 31 (habitus).

Biology: Chapin 1932a, 1932b; Valdes 1951; summarized by Ratcliffe 1976: 107.

Strategus anachoreta Burmeister 1847: 134.

Blackwelder (1944) attributes this species to Klug 1829: 11.

Cuba, Isla de la Juventud (Blackwelder 1944: 257; Ratcliffe 1976: 114; Endrödi 1985: 612, 617).

Ratcliffe (1976: 166) rejected as mistakes records for this species from Trinidad by Ballou (1914) and Smythe (192).

Illustrations: Ratcliffe 1976: 184 (habitus), 197 (aedeagus); Endrödi 1985: 612 (aedeagus), Plate 31 (habitus).

Biology: Scaramuzza (1929), Valdes (1951), Chapin (1932a).

Strategus atlanticus Ratcliffe 1976: 119.

San Salvador (Watling) Is. (Ratcliffe 1976: 119; Endrödi 1985: 609)

Illustrations: Ratcliffe 1976: 185 (habitus), 198 (aedeagus); Endrödi 1985: 608 (aedeagus)

Strategus caymani Ratcliffe 1976: 120

Little Cayman, Cayman Brac (Ratcliffe 1976: 120; Endrödi 1985: 613-614, 617)

Illustrations: Ratcliffe 1976: 186 (habitus), 198 (aedeagus); Endrödi 1985: 612 (aedeagus).

Strategus inermis Arrow 1947: 223

Hispaniola (Ratcliffe 1976: 130; Endrödi 1985: 610)

This species does not appear in Blackwelder (1944).

Illustrations: Ratcliffe 1976: 189 (habitus), 199 (aedeagus).

Strategus oblongus (Palisot de Beauvois 1807: 74)

syn. Strategus quadrifoveatus (Palisot de Beauvois 1807: 74) (name used by Endrödi 1976)

Grand Cayman, Hispaniola*, Puerto Rico (Blackwelder 1944: 257; Wolcott 1951: 267; Ratcliffe 1976: 137; Endrödi 1985: 611, 616).

Illustrations: Ratcliffe 1976: 192 (habitus), 200 (aedeagus); Endrödi 1985: 610 (aedeagus)

Biology: Plank (1948).

Strategus sarpedon Klug 1829: 11

Cuba (Blackwelder 1944: 257; Ratcliffe 1976: 140; Endrödi 1985: 611-612, 617).

Ratcliffe (1976: 166) listed and rejected as mislabeled a specimen labeled "Brazil."

Illustrations: Ratcliffe 1976: 192 (habitus), 200 (aedeagus); Endrödi 1985: 610 (aedeagus).

Strategus simson Linnaeus 1758: 345

Jamaica (Blackwelder 1944: 257; Ratcliffe 1976: 141; Endrödi 1985: 610-611, 616).

Illustrations: Ratcliffe 1976: 192 (habitus), 200 (aedeagus); Endrödi 1985: 610 (aedeagus)

Strategus symphenax Ratcliffe 1976: 148

Cuba (Ratcliffe 1976: 149)

Illustrations: Ratcliffe 1976: 194 (habitus), 201 (aedeagus).

NOT IN ENDRÖDI

Strategus syphax Fabricius 1775: 9

syn. Strategus vulcanus Fabricius 1792: 11

Guadeloupe (Blackwelder 1944: 257; Chalumeau 1983: 159; Ratcliffe 1976: 149; Endrödi 1985: 613, 617)

The Dominica record of Blackwelder (1944) [under S. vulcanus] belongs to S. verrilli (Ratcliffe 1976, 1982). Blackwelder also lists Cuba, Hispaniola and Grenada, and Endrödi (1985) includes the first 2 islands, but Ratcliffe (1976: 166) rejected all of these records. The Cuban and Hispaniolan records are obvious errors, although exactly which of the several species from those islands was involved is unclear. The Grenadan record probably refers to S. tarquinius, the only species recorded from that island by Ratcliffe (1976).

Illustrations: Ratcliffe 1976: 196 (habitus), 201 (aedeagus); Endrödi 1985: 612 (aedeagus), Plate 31 (habitus).

Strategus talpa Fabricius 1792: 32

Mona, Puerto Rico, Vieques, St. Thomas*, St. John*, Great St. James*, Tortola, Guana*, St. Croix*, St. Barthélemy, Antigua (Blackwelder 1944: 257; Wolcott 1951: 265; Ratcliffe 1976: 153; Endrödi 1985: 609-610, 612, 617).

syn. Strategus barbigerus Chapin 1932: 455; Strategus gracilis Endrödi 1976: XXX; Strategis thomasi Endrödi 1976: XX

Cuba, Jamaica, Mona, Puerto Rico, Vieques, St. John, St. Croix (Blackwelder 1944: 257; wOLCOTT 1951: 265; Endrödi 1985: 612)

Endrödi (1985) mentions only Puerto Rico.

Strategus barbigerus was described from Puerto Rico, and Wolcott (1936: XX CHECK) added some records for surrounding islands. But Blackwelder (1944: 257) erroneously added Cuba and Jamaica to its distribution, records that were dropped after Ratcliffe (1976) established its synonymy with S. talpa.

Strategus gracilis Endrödi 1976: XXX was based on a male labeled "Mexico", and a female from St. Croix. Ratcliffe (1982: 356) decided from the description that the male represented a good species. He then suggested the female was actually an S. talpa, the species that occurs on St. Croix. After examining the type, Ratcliffe & Dechambre (1983) concluded the male was mislabled, and synonymized S. gracilis with S. talpa. In 1983, Endrödi (1985: 608, 615) reserected S. gracilis, dropped the St. Croix record from the distribution, but distinguished the two species purely on the basis of geography, withouth further comment.

Strategis thomasi Endrödi 1976: XX Endrödi described this species from a male holotype from St. Thomas and a female from Hispaniola. The holotype proved to be conspecific with S. talpa (Ratcliffe & Dechambre 1983: 271), while the female is probably an S. aenobarbus (Endrödi 1985: 610, 617). Strategus talpa does not occur on Hispaniola.

Illustrations: Ratcliffe 1976: 194 (habitus), 201 (aedeagus); Chalumeau 1983: 158 (habitus); Endrödi 1985: 608, 610 (aedeagus).

Biology: Smyth (1920), Wolcott (1951); Ratcliffe (1976).

Strategus tarquinius Ratcliffe 1976: 153.

Grenada (Endrödi 1985: 611)

This is probably the species listed from Grenada as Strategus syphax [in part] by Blackwelder (1944: 257).The specimen recorded by Arrow (1900) as S. ?fascinusm [repeated by Leng & Mutchler (1914: 442) and Blackwelder (1944: 257)] was made part of the type series of S. tarquinius Ratcliffe (1976: 155).

Illustrations: Ratcliffe 1976: 195 (habitus), 201 (aedeagus); Endrödi 1985: 610 (aedeagus).

Strategus verrilli Ratcliffe 1976: 157.

syn tricornis Verrill 1906: 317 [not Jablonsky]

Dominica* (Blackwelder 1944: 257; Ratcliffe 1976: 157; Cartwright & Chalumeau 1978: 26; Ratcliffe 1982: 352)

After the type was destroyed, this species was listed as a synonym of a Guadeloupe species by Blackwelder (1944), doubted as a valid species by Cartwright & Chalumeau (1978) and Chalumeau (1983) and not listed at all by Endrödi (1985). It proved to be a valid species when specimens were finally recollected (Ratcliffe 1982).

Illustrations: Ratcliffe 1982: 353 (habiti); 354 (aedeagus).

Biology: Ratcliffe 1982: 352.

Dynastini

Dynastes hercules Linnaeus 1758: 345

Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, Central & South America (Blackwelder 1944: 259; Chalumeau 1983: 162; Endrödi 1985: 634-635).

This regal species has been the unfortunate recipient of far too much taxonomic attention. In the latest episode, Chalumeau (1983: 165) lists the Guadeloupe and Dominica populations as the typical subspecies, and the Martinique and St. Lucia populations as D. hercules reidi Chalumeau 1977: 237. This subspecific status is based on a small sample and inadequate statistics. D. hercules. reidi is relugated to the long list of names used to typify the variants of this alometrically variable species (Endrödi 1983 lists 12 names under this species, with the typical subspecies being Continental, D. h ercules raidi [sic] as the Martinique and St. Lucia subspecies, and ignores the Guadeloupe and Dominica populations' existance).

At 175 mm, males of this species are the largest beetles in the West Indies. When visiting Dominica in 1979, I was regailed by stories of the species' ability to grasp a branch in the horns, start to fly, and thus secured, twirl around a branch until it was cut, where upon it would lay an egg in the cut. Neither the fact that the underside of the prothoracic horn is lined with delicate setae that would rub off in a tell-tale pattern in such a circumstance, nor the fact that the horns only occur on the decidedly eggless males were considered important to the tellers of this tale -- it was well known to everyone.

Illustrations: Cartwright & Chalumeau 1978: 3 (male & female habiti); Chalumeau 1983: 163, 166; Endrödi 1985: 634 (female head, aedeagus), Plate 36 (habitus).

Questionable records include Jamaica (Gowdey 1926 [see Howden 1970]); Hispaniola (see Wetherbee 19XX).

Common names: Scieru-de Bois (Dominica) (Cartwright & Chalumeau

1978: 26), Hercules Beetle.

Biology: Gruner & Chalumeau: 1977.

Golofa clavigera guildingi Hope 1837: 44

St. Vincent (Blackwelder 1944: 259; Endrödi 1985: 650-651)

Illustrations: Endrödi 1985: 648 (aedeagus), Plate 39 (habitus).

Phileurini

Archophileurus cribrosus (LeConte 1854:

Guadeloupe, North America (Endrödi 1985: 699)

Chalumeau (1983) does not list this species, and Endrödi's record probably refers so somewhere in Mexico.

Illustrations: Endrödi 1985: 698 (aedeagus), Plate 45 (habitus)

Archophileurus digitalia Herbst 1789: 249

West Indies (Blackwelder 1944: 258)

Species dubia, according to Endrödi (1985: 696), who states the type is lost, the diagnosis inadequate, and the type locality uncertain.

Hemiphileurus cribratus (Chevrolat)

Chevrolat 1844: 90

Distribution: Cuba* (Blackwelder 1944: 259 [in Epiphileurus]; Endrödi 1985: 713; Ratcliffe & Ivie 1998: 207)

Illustration: Endrödi 1985: 712, Plate 46; Ratcliffe & Ivie 1998: 203 (parameres)