Rodolia cardinalis (Mulsant)

Nattier, Romain, Jourdan, Hervé, Mille, Christian & Chazeau, Jean, 2015, An annotated checklist of the Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) from New Caledonia, Zootaxa 4058 (3), pp. 301-331 : 316

Rodolia cardinalis (Mulsant)

Vedalia cardinalis Mulsant, 1850: 906 .

Novius cardinalis: Crotch 1874: 283 .

Eurodolia cardinalis: Weise 1895: 150 .

Rodolia (Macronovius) cardinalis: Weise 1905: 220 . Macronovius cardinalis: Weise 1922: 104 . Rodolia cardinalis: Korschefsky 1931: 101 .

This species was originally described from Australia. It is considered to be a recent introduction in New Caledonia and Cook Islands. It has been introduced successfully into Vanuatu, Fiji Islands, Micronesia ( Guam), Hawaii, in the southern United States (California, Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina and Texas), southern Europe, North Africa, South Africa, India and Indonesia (Java). It was also accidentally introduced to New Zealand, where it is not widespread. The date of arrival in New Caledonia is unknown, but it probably dispersed from Vanuatu (introduced to there in 1964 by Cochereau from Fiji Islands). It has been regularly collected since its first reported occurrence in 1975 in Nouméa but remains uncommon. This species is a major biocontrol agent worldwide as it represents the world’s first biocontrol success after its introduction in California in citrus orchards to control Icerya purchasi Maskell outbreaks ( Debach 1974). This is an aggressive predator against scale insects, especially Icerya spp. ( Hemiptera , Monophlebidae ). In Nouméa, it has been seen feeding on I. seychellarum (Westwood) .

Material examined. NEW CALEDONIA: Nouméa, Anse Vata , 11.vii.1975 (J. Gutierrez rec.) ( ONNC); Nouméa, 28.ix.1977 (J. Fons rec.) ( ONNC); Nouméa, Anse Vata , ix.1978 (J. Chazeau rec.) ( ONNC).