Rigorous Morphological Studies Confirm That the Classical Object of Pest Control Chilocorus kuwanae Is the Same Species as Ch. renipustulatus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

The ladybug Chilocorus kuwanae, which was described in Japan, has been used for biological control of pests for 100 years. Chilocorus kuwanae was recently synonymized with Ch. renipustulatus described in Europe. The synonymy was based on the examination of few specimens. Our aim is to verify this synonymy. We studied all characters previously used to distinguish these taxa: eight metric and nine qualitative characters. Examination of 107 specimens from Japan and Sakhalin and 174 specimens from Europe showed that the ranges of variability in all characters in Asian and European specimens strongly overlap. There are no characters with interspecific hiatuses. Analysis with Amadon’s criteria showed that Asian and European specimens also do not represent different subspecies. Conclusions: (1) No differences between the specimens from Asia (Japan and Sakhalin) and Europe were found at specific or subspecific levels. Chilocorus kuwanae is a junior synonym of Ch. renipustulatus. (2) The releases of “Chilocorus kuwanae” in Europe and the Caucasus did not represent classical biological control since the same species was native to these regions. (3) A thorough taxonomical revision with the study of morphological variability should be conducted before the introduction of any species to new regions. (4) Taxonomical conclusions based on morphological studies should be confirmed by statistical methods.

Key for identification of the ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) of European Russia and the Russian Caucasus (native and alien species)

Although ladybirds of European Russia and the Caucasus have been the subject of numerous ecological and faunistic investigations, there is an evident lack of appropriate identification keys. New, original keys to subfamilies, tribes, genera, and species of ladybirds (Coccinellidae) of European Russia and the Russian Caucasus are presented here. The keys include all native species recorded in the region and all introduced alien species. Some species from adjacent regions are added. In total, 113 species are treated and illustrated with line drawings. Photographs of rare and endemic species are provided. Information on the distribution of species within the region under consideration is provided. Chilocorus kuwanae Silvestri, 1909 is recognized as a subjective junior synonym (syn. nov.) of Ch. renipustulatus (Scriba, 1791).

Key for Identification of the Ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) of European Russia and Russian Caucasus (Native and Alien Species)

Although ladybirds of European Russia and the Caucasus have been the subject of numerous ecological and faunistic investigations, there is an evident lack of appropriate identification key for them. All previous keys have been published in Russian. The most modern key was published more than 50 years ago and included only about 60 % of species. Guides for identification of Coccinellidae of other countries are not appropriate for European Russia, since do not include many species occurring in the regions. New, original key to subfamilies, genera, and species of ladybirds (Coccinellidae) of the European Russia and Russian Caucasus is presented. All native species recorded in the region and all alien species introduced to this region are included. Some species from the adjacent regions are added. In total, 110 species are keyed and illustrated with line drawings. Photographs of rare and endemic species are provided. Information on the distribution of species within the region under consideration is provided. Synonymy of Chilocorus kuwanae with Ch. renipustulatus is presented and discussed.

Distribution of Natural Enemies of Euonymus Scale, Unaspis euonymi (Comstock), in Virginia

The colonization of Chilocorus kuwanae (Silvestri) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and Cybocephalus nipponicus (Endrody-Younga) (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), introduced predators of euonymus scale, Unaspis euonymi L., was evaluated on evergreen euonymus scale, Euonymus japonica L., by regional and statewide surveying. This study determined the statewide distribution of the native parasites of euonymus scale, Aspidiotiphagus spp. and Encarsia spp. (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). Highest recovery incidences were from 18 of the 41 survey sites on 25 May. The survey established the survival and dispersal of C. kuwanae in metropolitan areas of Virginia with recoveries in 8 of the 12 cities.