Micraspis frenata (Erichson)

Coccinella frenata Erichson, 1842: 239 .

Verania frenata: Mulsant 1850: 362 .

Coccinella bicruciata Montrouzier, 1861: 304 (pars)—synonymized by Fauvel 1903: 328. Alesia frenata: Masters 1888: 90 .

Micraspis frenata: Pope 1988: 679 .

This species was misidentified as Coelophora bicruciata by Montrouzier (1861). According to Fauvel (1903), who examined the type series of Coelophora bicruciata, it was a mixture of Coelophora inaequalis and Micraspis frenata specimens. This species is common in Australasia (Australia, Tasmania and Papua New Guinea). Iablokoff- Khnzorian (1982) treated the species as a junior synonym of Micraspis lineata (Thunberg, 1781) . This Micraspis is very common over New Caledonia, mostly from open areas on the west coast, but also the Central Range, Isle of Pines, and Belep Islands (Art Island). Its trophic preferences are wide, being mostly a hemipteran predator (aphids, cicadellids, psyllids), but it is able to eat pollen or extrafloral nectaries when prey are scarce (Hawkeswood & Turner 2002; Lundgren 2009). It has been widely recorded in close association with the invasive psyllid, Heteropsylla cubana, in New Caledonia (Gatimel 2005). This species has not yet been widely promoted for biocontrol, despite high potential in agroecosystems (Chenaux et al. 2011).

Material examined. NEW CALEDONIA: Bondé, 6.vi.1975 (J. Gutierrez rec.) (ONNC); Bourail, Néméara, 10.x.1958 (Y. Shibata rec.) (ONNC); Bourail, bords de la Néra, 23.vii.1988 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Bourail, bords de la Néra, 6.viii.1992 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Canala, 20.vi.1989 (J. Chazeau, L. Bonnet de Larbogne, E. Bouyé rec.) (ONNC); Col de la Pirogue, 16.i.1987 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Col d'Amieu, 23.vii.1977 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Col d'Amieu, 11.iii.1982 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Col de Crèvecoeur, 22.ix.1988 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Col de Koh, From La Foa to Canala 20.vi.1989 (J. Chazeau, L. Bonnet de Larbogne, E. Bouyé rec.) (ONNC); Col de Muéo, 17.viii.1992 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Col de Nassirah, versant Thio, 27.vi.1989 (J. Chazeau, L. Bonnet de Larbogne, E. Bouyé rec.) (ONNC); Col de Témala, 16.iv.1986 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Entre Moindou et Bourail, RT1 pk 148, 6.viii.1992 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Entre Port Laguerre et Tontouta, 22.xi.1987 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Environs de Port-Laguerre, 29.i.1978 (A. Delobel rec.) (ONNC); Environs de Houaïlou (6 km ouest), 23.ix.1988 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Isle of Pines, Grottes d'Oumagne, 22.viii.1988 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Kaala-Gomen, 22.ix.1986 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); La Foa, 2.x.1979 (B. Sallée rec.) (ONNC); Negropo, iii.1955 (ONNC); Ouaco, 22.vii.1977 (J. Gutierrez rec.) (ONNC); Pindai, 9.ix.1992 (E. & M. Schlinger rec.) (ONNC); Pindai, 13.ix.1992 (D. Webb rec.) (ONNC); Pont de la Ouenghi, RT1, 1.xii.1981 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Pont de la Rivière du Cap, RT1, 20.ix.1988 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Port-Laguerre, ii-vi.1977 (A. Delobel rec.) (ONNC); Port-Laguerre, Station Agricole, 28.i.1977 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Port-Laguerre, Station Agricole, 3.iii.1977 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Pouembout, 17.ix.1975 (J. Gutierrez rec.) (ONNC); Pouembout sud, 17.viii.1992 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Pouembout, Franco Plage, 19.iii.1982 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Poya, 16.iv.1986 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Poya, 16.iv.1986 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Route de Faténaoué, environs confluent Ouagatch, 19.x.1988 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); RT1, environs limite provinciale (7 km sud), 17.viii.1992 (ONNC); Sarraméa, x.1969 (P. Cochereau rec.) (ONNC); Timbia (Païta), 25.xii.1992 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Tontouta, 20.v.1979 (B. Sallée rec.) (ONNC); Vallée du Diahot, vii.1955 (ONNC); Ile longue, Chesterfield Islands, xi.2012 (E. Bourguet et H. Jourdan rec.) (ONNC); La Foa, Pocquereux, 21°44’S / 165°54’E / 28m, 20.iv.2001 (J. Brinon rec.) (CXMNC); La Foa, Pocquereux, 21°44’S / 165°54’E / 28m, 05.vi.2001 (J. Brinon rec.) (CXMNC); La Foa, Pocquereux, 21°44’S / 165°54’E / 28m, 07.viii.2001 (J. Brinon rec.) (CXMNC); La Foa, Pocquereux, COL /ins/213-14, 10.2006 (J. Sudre rec.) (CXMNC); Thio, tribu de Koua, COL /ins/ 28-14, 18.iii.2013 (R-M. M'Boueri rec.) (CXMNC); Yaté, Prony, COL /ins/67-14, 2006 (H. Jourdan rec.) (CXMNC); Bourail, Gouaro, 21.58113°S / 165.42045°E / 68m, ii.2001 (S. Cazères rec.) (CXMNC); Bourail, Gouaro, 21.58113°S / 165.42045°E / 68m, 26.iii.2001 (S.Cazères rec.) (CXMNC); Bourail, Gouaro chez M. Houarau, 04.x.2004 (S.Cazères rec.) (CXMNC); Lifou, 27.vii.2002 (C. Mille rec.) (CXMNC); Boulouparis, Ouenghi, 21°53'51.61"S / 166°06'49.62’’E / 7m, 10.ii.2012 (C. Mille rec.) (CXMNC); Nouméa, Ouen Toro, 24.x.1979 (J. Chazeau rec.) (MNHN); Nouméa, 1904 (R. Bavay rec.) (MNHN); Ouen Toro, 4.iv.1995 (M. Boulard rec.) (MNHN); Nouméa, 1929 (Risbec rec.) (MNHN); Sanatorium du Col de la Pirogue, 10.i.1951 (MNHN); Canala, 1869 (Delacour rec.) (MNHN).