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Title: REVIEW OF LADY BEETLES IN THE CYCLONEDA GERMAINII SPECIES COMPLEX (COLEOPTERA; COCCINELLIDAE: COCCINELLINAE: COCCINELLINI) WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW AND UNUSUAL SPECIES FROM CHILE AND SURROUNDING COUNTRIES

Author
item Vandenberg, Natalia
item GONZALEZ, GUILLERMO - NONE

Submitted to: Zootaxa
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/6/2006
Publication Date: 9/11/2006
Citation: Gonzalez, G., Vandenberg, N.J. 2006. Review of lady beetles in the Cycloneda germainii species complex (Coleoptera; Coccinellidae: Coccinellinae: Coccinellini) with descriptions of new and unusual species from Chile and surrounding countries. Zootaxa. 1311:13-50.

Interpretive Summary: Lady beetles are important predators of crop and garden pests. Some South American species are voracious predators of aphids occurring on a number of agricultural crops, including peaches, tomatoes, potatoes, grains and cotton, but they are poorly known. To utilize the predatory potential of these beneficial species, we need to know the species names and classification so that pertinent literature can be accessed on their diverse feeding habits, distributions, and seasonality. The present contribution describes and illustrates three previously unknown species and provides characters for differentiating them from closely related species. This work will aid agriculturalists, biological control practitioners, and ecologists in identifying and better understanding the lady beetle species they encounter.

Technical Abstract: A complex of lady beetle species allied to Cycloneda germainii Crotch is reviewed and seven valid species recognized, including C. germainii (Crotch), C. eryngii (Mulsant), C. sicardi (Brethes), C. boliviana (Mulsant), and three new species, C. lacrimosa Gonzalez & Vandenberg, n. sp., C. disconsolata Vandenberg & Gonzalez, n. sp., and C. patagonica Gonzalez & Vandenberg, n. sp. Cycloneda duplaris Berg and Arrowella albilacus Brethes, previously synonymized with C. areata Mulsant, are placed as new synonyms of C. germainii; C. boliviana is removed from synonymy with C. areata and reinstated as a full species; C. sicardi (Brethes) is recognized as the valid replacement name for C. areata Mulsant. All seven species in the C. germainii species complex are diagnosed, described and illustrated. Geographical distributions, prey associations (when known), and a key to species are provided. The occurrence of Coccinellini species with reduced (10 or 9) or variable numbers of antennomeres is noted for the first time, as well as loss of gender specific color pattern polymorphism in some of the species studied.