Microterys Thomson 1876

Hosts. Hemiptera: Coccidae, Eriococcidae, Kermesidae

mazzinini Girault 1917a: 12

Type. USNM

Distribution. C (Inyo, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Tulare) Host/habitat. Physokermes insignicola

nietneri (Motschulsky 1859: 170) (Encyrtus)

Type. ZMUM

Distribution. W (Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Napa, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Solano, Tehama, Tulare, Ventura)

Host/habitat. Ceroplastes cirripediformis, C. destructor, C. floridensis, C. japonicus, C. rubens, Coccus hesperidum, C. pseudomagnoliarum, C. viridis, Eucalymnatus tessellatus, Eulecanium sp., Gascardia sp., Maacoccus piperis, Milviscutulus mangiferae, Parasaissetia nigra, Parthenolecanium cerasifex, P. corni, P. fletcheri, P. persicae, Protopulvinaria pyriformis, Pulvinaria mammeae, P. peregrina, P. psidii, P. vitis, Pulvinariella mesembryanthemi, Saissetia coffeae, S. miranda, S. oleae, S. sp.

Remarks. Microterys nietneri is a widespread (perhaps even cosmopolitan) species, but it is not clear if it occurs naturally in California. Howard (1881) described Encyrtus flavus from Los Angeles County, but Timberlake (1913) and Bartlett & Lagace (1961) noted that this species was also known from Asia and opined it had been accidentally established here. In the1950s a “black scale race” of this species was introduced from India and Pakistan in a series of (apparently unsuccessful) biocontrol introductions (Clausen 1959; Bartlett 1978a). In 1989, Trjapitzin synonymized E. flavus under M. nietneri . Bartlett & Lagace (1961) and Rosen & Kfir (1980) noted that several geographical strains of this species exist, and they differ in their host preferences. Noyes (2001) includes a host record of “ Coccus piperus ”, referred to Hayat’s (1986) catalog of Indian Encyrtidae, but in that work the host is properly spelled as “ Coccus piperis ” (now placed in the genus Maacoccus). There are specimens reportedly reared from Aonidiella aurantii (UCRC), but this identification is questionable.

physokermis Compere 1926b: 43

Type. USNM

Distribution. C (Alameda, Calaveras, Contra Costa, Madera, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, Santa Clara) Host/habitat. Physokermis insignicola

Remarks. Noyes (2001) mistakenly recorded this species from Japan.

sylvius (Dalman 1820: 154) (Encyrtus)

Type. NHRS

Distribution. W (Calaveras, El Dorado, Inyo, Lassen, Los Angeles, Merced, Modoc, Napa, Plumas, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Yosemite National Park)

Host/habitat. Didesmococcus unifasciatus, Eulecanium ficiphilum (nec ficifilum), E. nocivum, E. sericeum, E. tiliae, E. sp., Parthenolecanium corni, P. persicae, P. rufulum, Physokermes jezoensis, Rhodococcus perornatus, R. spiraeae, R. turanicus, Sphaerolecanium prunastri, Stotzia maxima

Remarks. This is a Holarctic species that was originally recorded from California under the junior synonym M. titiani Girault (1917a) .

xanthopsis Compere 1926b: 41

Type. USNM

Distribution. N (Alameda, Amador, Calaveras, Contra Costa, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Marin, Napa, Placer, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Stanislaus, Tulare, Yolo)

Host/habitat. Parthenolecanium corni, P. persicae

Remarks. Noyes (2001) mistakenly recorded this species from Japan.

yolandae Compere 1926b: 39

Type. USNM

Distribution. C (Alameda, Contra Costa, Riverside, San Benito, Solano, Tulare, Yolo) Host/habitat. Kermes cockerelli

Remarks. Noyes (2001) mistakenly recorded this species from Japan.

spp.

Remarks. I have seen specimens that appear to represent an additional seven morphospecies present in the state (EMEC, LACM, RLZC, SBMN, UCFC, UCRC). One of these species had previously (Dreistadt & Hagen, 1994) been reported as a parasitoid of Eriococcus spurius, and it is not clear if it is a native species or if it had been introduced into the state.