Parexochomus nigripennis (Erichson, 1843)

Chilocorus nigripennis Erichson, 1843: 267.

Remarks.

This species was reported as a predator of mealybugs (Talhouk 1982) and is known as the biocontrol agent of aphids such as Aphis nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe, 1841, a pest of Nerium oleander L., and a predator on the soft scale insect Najacoccus serpentinus Green, 1919, a pest of Tamarix articulata Vahl (Martin 1972).

Material examined.

Asir: Khamis Mushait, Wadi Bisha, 18°20.01'N, 42°42.13'E, 1990 m 27.IV.2011, SN, Al Ansi, A., 1ex; Najran: Rijla, Wadi Najran, 17°31.56'N, 44°13.65'E, 1257 m, 15.I.2013, BS, Al Ansi et al., 4exs; Al Mofejah, 17°27.25'N, 44°03.48'E, 1263 m, 16.I.2013, BS, Al Ansi et al., 1♂1♀; Baha: Wadi Bawah, 20°43.93'N, 41°16.82'E, 1347 m, 8.XI.2012, BS, Fadl, H., 1ex; Riyadh: Dirab, 23°30'N, 46°51'E, 4.V.1987, SN, 1♀1ex; 9.XII.1990, SN, 1ex; Al Kharj, 20°24'N, 46°29"E, III.1980, SN, 1♂; Huraymila, 25°09'N, 46°08'E, 13.II.1988, SN, Al Dawood, A., 1♀2exs; Al Waseel, 24°48.40'N, 46°30.42'E, 20.X.2011, SN, Al Rashedi, H., 1ex; Ad Diriyah, 24°40'N, 46°35'E, 8.XII, SN, 1ex; 29.XII.2009, SN, Abdel-Gayyed, 1ex; Tabouk: Tabuk-Dhuba Rd., 28°18.39'N, 36°02.87'E, 824 m, 15.IX.2011, SN, Al Ansi, A., 1ex; Qaseem: Buraydah, 26°12.954'N, 44°02.48'E, 633 m, 17.IX.2011, SN, Al Ansi, A., 4exs; Riyadh, 24 43.01"N, 46 38.65"E, 1972, ANMA, 6exs; 18.IV.1978, SN, A.Talhouk et al., ANMA, 8exs, det. Fürsch, 1979; 2.II.1985, Abdulkader A., ANMA, 54 exs.

Local distribution.

This species was found throughout the KSA and collected from Asir, Baha, Najran, Riyadh, Tabouk, and Qaseem during this study. It was also reported by Shalaby (1962) from Asir, listed by Martin (1972), and reported by Beccari (1971) from Asir, by Fürsch (1979) from Riyadh, and by Talhouk (1982) from Riyadh and Qaseem regions.

World distribution.

Asia: AE, AF, IN, IQ, PAL, LE, PA, SA, SI, and SY; Europe: IT, PT, and SP; North Africa: AG, CI, EG, LB, MA, MO, and TU; AFR ( Kovář 2007); YE (Raimundo and van Harten 2000).