Diomus notescens (Blackburn)

Scymnus notescens Blackburn, 1888: 196 . Diomus rusticus Weise, 1895: 145 .

Diomus notescens: Weise 1908: 13 .

This is the most widespread Diomus in Australia, where it has been reared on coccids from the genus Eriococcus (Slipinski 2007) . In the last 30 years, it has been caught regularly on New Caledonian west coast (Port-Laguerre, Païta County) and the Central Range (Mt Kaala) (Chazeau, pers. obs.). This ladybug is also recorded from New Zealand and has been deliberately introduced to Hawaii (Leeper 1975). This species appears as a recent migrant (natural spread or accidental introduction) in New Caledonia (Chazeau, pers. obs.). No biological data are available, except feeding habit on pseudococcids and aphids.

Material examined. NEW CALEDONIA: Boulouparis, Mont Do, 21°45'26.75''S / 165°59'58.68’’E / 920m, 22.xi.2007 (S. Cazères rec.) (CXMNC); Pouembout chez M. Soury-Lavergne, COL /ins/255-14, 01.viii.2014 (C. Mille rec.) (CXMNC); Boulouparis, Mont Do, 21.75394°S / 161.99994°E / 1029m, 06.x.2004 (S. Cazères & C. Mille rec.) (CXMNC); La Foa, Nili, 21.70408°S / 165.81785°E / 34m, 21.xi.2010 (C. Mille rec.) (CXMNC).