Henosepilachna sumbana (Bielawski)

Epilachna vigintioctopunctata sumbana Bielawski, 1959: 147.

Epilachna cucurbitae Richards, 1983: 37 —synonymized by Jadwiszczak & Wegrzynowicz 2003: 173. Henosepilachna sumbana: Jadwiszczak & Wegrzynowicz 2003: 173.

Nomenclature of Epilachnini has been highly debated during recent decades, and H. sumbana has not been cited under this name in the context of local census. But, it is highly probable that the “ vigintioctopunctata ” recorded in the region (i.e. Epilachna with 28 dots), which attacks Cucurbitaceae, belongs to this species. It was originally described from Indonesia, but this taxon was redescribed from Australia (Epilachna cucurbitae Richards, 1983, synonymized with Epilachna sumbana Bielawski, 1959: Jadwiszczak & Wegrzynowicz, 2003, as quoted by Slipinski 2007). It is also recorded widely in Asia and the Pacific region (Australia, Indonesia, West Timor, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji Islands, Samoa and Wallis & Futuna). This species was not recorded by Bielawski (1972) and therefore must have been introduced accidentally to New Caledonia after Bielawski’s study. This ladybug was frequent around Nouméa and Dumbéa counties by the end of the 1970s (Chazeau, pers. obs.), but today it is rarer. In New Caledonia, its host plants are cultivated or wild Cucurbitaceae, suggesting that this species belongs to the vigintioctopunctata species complex, whereas the two Australian species are specific to Solanaceae (Richards & Filewood 1990).

Material examined. NEW CALEDONIA: Dumbéa, 9.ii.1977 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC).