Coelophora inaequalis (Fabricius)

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 : 305

Coelophora inaequalis (Fabricius)

Coccinella inaequalis Fabricius, 1775: 80 .

Coccinella circularis Thunberg, 1820: 365 —synonymized by Pope 1987: 54. Lemnia desolata Mulsant, 1850: 387 —synonymized by Houston 1979: 49. Coccinella bicruciata Montrouzier, 1861:304 (pars)—synonymized by Fauvel 1903: 328. Verania artensis Montrouzier, 1861:305 —synonymized by Chazeau 1978: 59. Coelophora ripponi Crotch, 1874: 156 —synonymized by Iablokoff-Khnzorian 1979: 61. Coelophora mastersi Blackburn, 1892: 238 —synonymized by Houston 1979: 49. Coelophora inaequalis: Fauvel 1903: 327 .

At first, this species was misidentified by Montrouzier who described it under two endemic species: Coccinella bicruciata and Verania artensis . According to Fauvel (1903), who examined the type series, Coelophora bicruciata (Montrouzier) was a mixture of Coelophora inaequalis and Micraspis frenata (Erichson) specimens. Verania artensis was subsequently synonymized by Chazeau (1978). Coelophora inaequalis is widespread from both coasts to high altitude (> 1,000m) on Grande Terre but also on Loyalty Islands and Isle of Pines. This species is widely distributed across Asia and the Pacific region ( Australia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Fiji Islands, Hawaii, Micronesia (Bonin, Marianna, Caroline, Wake, Marshall, Kiribati), Cook Islands, Samoa, Wallis and Futuna, French Polynesia); but also has been recorded from eastern North America . This is a polyphagous predator of hemipterous insects ( Aphididae, Coccomorpha ) from natural habitats to agricultural lands and disturbed areas. According to its geographic range and feeding biology, humans have probably spread this species during the first settlements. It is a well-known and largely promoted biocontrol agent against aphids ( Wang & Tsai 2001).

Material examined. NEW CALEDONIA: Bac de la Ouaïème, 17.iv.1986 (J. Chazeau rec.) ( ONNC); Bourail, 10.iii.1986 (J. Chazeau rec.) ( ONNC); from La Foa to Canala, ii.1907 (Le Rat rec.) ( ONNC); Goro, 12.viii.1985 (J. Chazeau rec.) ( ONNC); Hienghène, 18.xi.1958 (M. Ogata rec.) ( ONNC); Houaïlou, 7.iii.1982 (J. Chazeau rec.) ( ONNC); Isle of Pines, airport, 24.viii.1988 (J. Chazeau rec.) ( ONNC); Iles Loyauté, Lifou; Iles Loyauté, Maré; Koumac, 10.iii.1986 (J. Chazeau rec.) ( ONNC); Koumac, 26.viii.1986 (J. Chazeau rec.) ( ONNC); Koumac, 27.viii.1986 (J. Chazeau rec.) ( ONNC); Mt Do, 1000 m, 4.xi.1992 (J. Chazeau & D. Webb rec.) ( ONNC); Nouméa, Anse Vata , 25.ii.1977 (J. Chazeau rec.) ( ONNC); Nouméa, Anse Vata , 10.iii.1977 (J. Chazeau rec.) ( ONNC); Nouméa, Anse Vata , 3.x.1977 (J. Chazeau rec.) ( ONNC); Nouméa, IFO, 4.i.1964; Nouméa, IFO, 13.i.1965; Nouméa, OuenToro, vii.1966 (J. Fainika rec.) ( ONNC); Nouméa, Baie des Citrons, 27.vi.1978 (J. Chazeau rec.) ( ONNC); Nouméa, Trianon, 20.iv.1964 (J. Gutierrez rec.) ( ONNC); Nouméa, vi, vii, xi.1955; Nouméa, ix.1964; Pouembout, 17.ix.1975 (J. Gutierrez rec.) ( ONNC); Pindai, 6.xi.1992 (D. Webb rec.) ( ONNC); La Foa-Canala Road, i.1958; Thio, 27.vi.1983 (L. Bonnet de Larbogne, E. Bouyé, J. Chazeau rec.) ( ONNC); Thio Ouroué, 5.i.1982 (J. Chazeau rec.) ( ONNC); Ile longue, Chesterfield islands, xi.2012 (E. Bourguet et H. Jourdan rec.) ( ONNC); La Foa, Pocquereux, 21°44’S / 165°54’E / 28m, 10.ix.2001 (S. Cazères rec.) ( CXMNC); La Foa, Pocquereux, 21°44’S / 165°54’E / 28m, 20.iv.2001 (J. Brinon rec.) ( CXMNC); La Foa, Pocquereux, 16.xi.1997 ( CXMNC); Bourail, Gouaro, 21°36’S / 165°28’E / 68m, 04.iv.2001 (S. Cazères rec.) ( CXMNC); Farino, Tendéa, 21.61928°S / 165.70907°E / 403m, 29.iv.2004 (S. Cazères rec.) ( CXMNC); Houaïlou, Néoua, 13.iv.2013 (C. Mille rec.) ( CXMNC); Pouembout chez M. Soury-Lavergne, COL /ins/255-14, 01.viii.2014 (C. Mille rec.) ( CXMNC); Poya, Beaupré chez M. Mezdorf, 21°205’S/ 165°09’E, 22.vi.2001 (R. Guiglion rec.) ( CXMNC); Maré, La Roche, 16.iv.2004 (C. Mille rec.) ( CXMNC).