Chilocorus nigrita (Fabricius)

Coccinella nigrita Fabricius, 1798: 79 . Chilocorus nigritus: Mulsant 1850: 463 . Chilocorus nigrita: Booth 1998: 362 .

This species was recorded as an introduction during the early 1980s (Chazeau 1981b), and further spread across New Caledonia. It is now widespread from west coast of the Grande Terre and Loyalty Islands (Chazeau, pers. obs.). Its arrival appears to be a probable self-introduction from Vanuatu, where this species is widespread (Chazeau 1981b). It is a diaspid predator, especially Aspidiotini on coconut trees (Chazeau 1981b; Omkar & Pervez 2003; Ponsonby 2009). This is a widespread and largely promoted species for biocontrol programs of Aspidiotus destructor Signoret ( Hemiptera: Diaspididae), especially in coconut palm plantations (Omkar & Pervez 2003). It is widely distributed from India to Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Madagascar, La Réunion, Mauritius, Seychelles, Chagos Islands, Malaysia, Indonesia, Oman, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Brazil; but also in the Pacific: Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Fiji Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Samoa, French Polynesia and Hawaii (Booth 1998; Chazeau 1983).

Material examined. NEW CALEDONIA: Bouloupari, 20.iv.1988 (Brizard rec.) (ONNC); Bouloupari, 20.iv.1988 (Brizard rec.) (ONNC); Nouméa, Vallon du Gaz, 11.iv.1981 (J. Chazeau rec.) (ONNC); Nouméa, Baie de la Moselle, 20.vi.1987 (ONNC); Pouébo (around), 23.xi.1987 (J.P. Morin rec.) (ONNC); Bouraké, 17.viii.2008 (H. Jourdan rec.) (ONNC).