Menochilus duodecimpunctatus (Fauvel)

Cheilomenes duodecimpunctata Fauvel, 1866: 209 .

Chilomenes polynesiae Crotch, 1874: 181 —synonymized by Iablokoff-Khnzorian 1982: 146.

This species was described by Fauvel based on a single specimen from Lifou in 1867. It was described in the genus Chilomenes which was transferred to Menochilus by Pope (1988). The validity of this taxon is still challenged. Fauvel (1903) claimed to have sent the type specimen to Crotch, who supposedly redescribed the species under Chilomenes polynesiae . Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1982) examined the type specimen of C. polynesiae Crotch, 1874 (coll. Crotch, Cambridge University; type locality: Fiji) and considered it as a junor synonym of M. duodecimpunctatus . This specimen is obviously a female belonging to Menochilus, but the locality label did not match with Fauvel’s specimen, and therefore with the type specimen of M. duodecimpunctatus . As pointed out by Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1982), Fauvel’s type specimen has been lost. On Lifou Island, from where M. duodecimpunctatus was described, there is another common Menochilus, M. sexmaculatus . This taxon matches with Fauvel’s original description, but exhibits various color morphs. Based on this information and state of knowledge, we conclude that Menochilus duodecimpunctatus appears very doubtful and should be removed from the New Caledonian coccinellid checklist.