Coccinella transversalis Fabricius

Coccinella transversalis Fabricius, 1781: 97.

Coccinella repanda Thunberg, 1781: 18 —synonymized by Mulsant 1850: 1022 (as Coccinella repanda Casström).

The synonymy, established by Mulsant (1850) (first reviewer who attributed the species authorship to Casström) is currently accepted by recent authors (e.g. Pope 1987; Slipinski 2007). C. transversalis is a very widespread species, it has been recorded widely in the Asia-Pacific region, from India to Polynesia, including Australia, Tasmania, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Fiji Islands, Micronesia, Cook Islands, Wallis & Futuna, and French Polynesia. In New Caledonia, it is a common species on both coasts, including high altitudes (greater than 1,000m), Isle of Pines, Belep Islands, Loyalty Islands, Surprise, Chesterfield and Walpole islands. This is a polyphagous predator of various Hemiptera (Aphididae, Psyllidae, Coccomorpha). Humans have promoted its spread and we consider it as introduced according to its biological traits (since aphids are all introduced in New Caledonia; CM & HJ, unpublished data) and distribution. When prey is scarce, it is also known to feed on pollen and extrafloral nectaries (Evans 2000) which are uncommon in the New Caledonian native flora. This species has attracted great interest in biocontrol especially against aphids (Aphis gossypii Glover) and against the pseudococcid Planococcus citri (Risso) (Waterhouse 1998).

Material examined. NEW CALEDONIA: Bondé, vallée du Diahot, vii.1955 (ONNC); Bourail, 11.iv.1988 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Canala, 23.vii.1977 (A. Delobel rec.) (ONNC); Col d'Amieu, Tribu de Couli, vi.1955 (ONNC); Col de Crèvecoeur, 22.ix.1988 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Col des Mimosas, RT1, 16.iv.1986 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Col des Roussettes, 16.iv.1986 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Dôme de Thiébaghi, 18.iii.1982 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Dumbéa, chez Trichard, 9.ii.1977 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Environs de Galarino, 12.ii.1966 (ONNC); Environs de Port-Laguerre, 29.i.1978 (A. Delobel rec.) (ONNC); Hienghène, 16.iii.1982 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Houaïlou, vi.1955 (ONNC); Ile Surprise, 11.i.1989 (P. Laboute rec.) (ONNC); Ile Walpole, 1115. viii.1988 (A. Renevier rec.) (ONNC); Kaala-Gomen, 22.ix.1986 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Mandjélia, ancienne scierie, ii.1985 (J. Danloux rec.) (ONNC); Mt Do, 9.v.1990 (J. Danloux rec.) (ONNC); Mt Do, 1015 m, 31.x.1992 (J. Chazeau rec., E.& M. Schlinger rec.) (ONNC); Mt Mou, iii.1956 (ONNC); Mt Mou, sentier captage tribu des Pirogues, 14.ii.1977 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Nouméa, xii.1954 (ONNC); Nouméa, iiv, vii, ix, xi, xii.1955 (ONNC); Nouméa, i, vi.1956 (ONNC); Nouméa, xii.1957 (ONNC); Nouméa, ii.1958 (ONNC); Nouméa, iii.1959 (ONNC); Nouméa, ii. 1964 (ONNC); Nouméa, x.1976 (A. Delobel) (ONNC); Nouméa, Anse Vata, 25.ii.1977 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Nouméa, Ile Nou, 11.iv.1988 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Nouméa, jardin Musée, 9.iii.1977 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Nouméa, Ouen Toro, 24.vi.1978 (A. Delobel) (ONNC); Ponerihouen, 1985 (R. Amice rec.) (ONNC); Port-Laguerre, ii-v.1977 (A. Delobel) (ONNC); Port-Laguerre, Station Agricole, 3.iii.1977 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Pouembout, 17.ix.1975 (J. Gutierrez rec.) (ONNC); Poum, 4.xii.1958 (Y. Shibata rec.) (ONNC); Poum, 18.iii.1986 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Poum, La Gologne, 18.iii.1988 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Poya, 16.iv.1986 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Thio, bord de rivière, 1.xi.1976 (A. Delobel rec.) (ONNC); Thio Ouroué, 5.i.1982 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Vallée de la Boghen, 17.ix.1975 (J. Gutierrez rec.) (ONNC); Voh, Tribu de Keta, vi, viii.1955 (ONNC); Ile Loop et ilôts Avon, Chesterfield islands, xi.2012 (E. Bourguet et H. Jourdan rec.) (ONNC); La Foa, Pocquereux, 21°44'S / 165°54'E / 28m, 20.iv.2001 (J. Brinon rec.) (CXMNC); Sarraméa, 21.66941°S / 165.81723°E / 3m, 21.xi.2001 (J. Brinon rec.) (CXMNC); La Foa, 21°43’S / 165°49’E, 24.ii.2004 (R-M. M'Boueri rec.) (CXMNC); La Foa, Pocquereux, 21°44'S / 165°54'E / 28m, 07.viii.2001 (J. Brinon rec.) (CXMNC); La Foa, Pocquereux, 21°44'S / 165°54'E / 28m, 24.ii.2004 (R-M. M'Boueri rec.) (CXMNC); La Foa, Pocquereux, 21°44'124''S/165°53'852''E/ 38m, 19.ii.2015 (M. Dierkens rec.) (CXMNC); Yaté, Prony, COL /ins/67-14, 2006 (H. Jourdan rec.) (CXMNC); Boulouparis, Ouenghi, COL /ins/41-14, 21°53'44.62"S / 166°06'41.53"E / 7m, 28.i.2014 (C. Mille rec.) (CXMNC); Boulouparis, Ouenghi, COL /ins/41-14, 28.i.2014 (C. Mille rec.) (CXMNC); Ouvéa, Téouta-ounes, 20°24'40''S / 166°36'20''E, COL /ins/87-14, 14.iii.2014 (C. Mille rec.) (CXMNC); Pouembout, 21°08'48.54''S /164°55'25.31''/ 38m, COL /ins/220-14, 15.vii.2014 (S. Tron rec.) (CXMNC); Pouembout chez M. Soury-Lavergne, 11.vii.2013 (C. Mille rec.) (CXMNC); Pouembout chez M. Soury-lavergne, COL /ins/255-14, 01.viii.2014 (C. Mille rec.) (CXMNC); La Foa, Pocquereux, 05.iii.2004 (R-M.

M'Boueri rec.) (CXMNC); Sarraméa, Col d'amieu, 26.x.2005 (S. Cazères & J-P. Kataoui rec.) (CXMNC); Boulouparis, Mont Do, 1029m, 03.xii.2009 (CXMNC); Boulouparis, Ouenghi, 7m, 12.ix.2012 (R-M. M'Boueri rec.) (CXMNC); Bourail, 1929 (Risbec rec.) (MNHN); Timbia, 1929 (Risbec rec.) (MNHN); Plum, 1928 (Pruvot rec.) (MNHN); Iles Loyauté, Lifou, 1928 (Pruvot rec.) (MNHN); Nouméa, 4.i.1951 (MNHN); Canala, 1869 (Delacour rec.) (MNHN).