Synechodes Turner, 1913

Kallies, Axel, 2013, New and little known Brachodidae from tropical Asia and Papua New Guinea (Lepidoptera, Cossoidea), Zootaxa 3641 (3), pp. 241-259 : 242

Synechodes Turner, 1913

Type species: Synechodes coniophora Turner, 1913 .

This genus is known from India throughout south and southeastern Asia to Papua New Guinea and northeastern Australia. The type species, Synechodes coniophora , occurs in the tropical rainforests of northeastern Queensland ( Australia). It differs from most species in the genus by its distinct sexual dimorphism: males are almost entirely black, whereas females have bright orange-yellow markings. This dimorphism led to the description of the female as S. heppneri Kallies, 1998 , which is a junior synonym of S. coniophora (syn. nov.). Similar sexual dimorphism also is present in Synechodes diabolus (Felder & Rogenhofer, 1875) from the Moluccas.

Of the 16 described species included in the genus (Kallies 1998, Kallies 2004), the biology is known for only four, all of which feed in the petiole or inflorescence of various palm species ( Arecaceae ), including Calamus spp. Two species, S. olivora Kallies 1998 and S. papuana Heppner 1990 , are considered serious pests of oil palm ( Elaeis guineensi s) and coconut palm ( Cocos nucifera ), respectively (Kallies 1998, Kallies 2004, Kakul et al. 2006). Adults are typically active during the day, although occasionally they are attracted to light (Rentz pers. comm.; Kakul et al. 2006).