Microterys Thomson 1876

Zuparko, Robert L., 2015, Annotated Checklist of California Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera), Zootaxa 4017 (1), pp. 1-126 : 42-43

Microterys Thomson 1876

Hosts. Hemiptera : Coccidae , Eriococcidae , Kermesidae

mazzinini Girault 1917a: 12

Type. USNM

Distribution. C (Inyo, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Tulare ) Host/habitat. Physokermes insignicola

nietneri ( Motschulsky 1859: 170) (Encyrtus)

Type. ZMUM

Distribution. W (Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Napa, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Solano, Tehama, Tulare, Ventura)

Host/habitat. Ceroplastes cirripediformis , C. destructor , C. floridensis , C. japonicus , C. rubens , Coccus hesperidum , C. pseudomagnoliarum , C. viridis , Eucalymnatus tessellatus , Eulecanium sp., Gascardia sp., Maacoccus piperis , Milviscutulus mangiferae , Parasaissetia nigra , Parthenolecanium cerasifex , P. corni , P. fletcheri , P. persicae , Protopulvinaria pyriformis , Pulvinaria mammeae , P. peregrina , P. psidii , P. vitis , Pulvinariella mesembryanthemi , Saissetia coffeae , S. miranda , S. oleae , S. sp.

Remarks. Microterys nietneri is a widespread (perhaps even cosmopolitan) species, but it is not clear if it occurs naturally in California. Howard (1881) described Encyrtus flavus from Los Angeles County, but Timberlake (1913) and Bartlett & Lagace (1961) noted that this species was also known from Asia and opined it had been accidentally established here. In the1950s a “black scale race” of this species was introduced from India and Pakistan in a series of (apparently unsuccessful) biocontrol introductions ( Clausen 1959; Bartlett 1978a). In 1989, Trjapitzin synonymized E. flavus under M. nietneri . Bartlett & Lagace (1961) and Rosen & Kfir (1980) noted that several geographical strains of this species exist, and they differ in their host preferences. Noyes (2001) includes a host record of “ Coccus piperus ”, referred to Hayat’s (1986) catalog of Indian Encyrtidae , but in that work the host is properly spelled as “ Coccus piperis ” (now placed in the genus Maacoccus ). There are specimens reportedly reared from Aonidiella aurantii (UCRC), but this identification is questionable.

physokermis Compere 1926b: 43

Type. USNM

Distribution. C (Alameda, Calaveras, Contra Costa, Madera, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, Santa Clara) Host/habitat. Physokermis insignicola

Remarks. Noyes (2001) mistakenly recorded this species from Japan.

sylvius ( Dalman 1820: 154) (Encyrtus)

Type. NHRS

Distribution. W (Calaveras, El Dorado, Inyo, Lassen, Los Angeles, Merced, Modoc, Napa, Plumas, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Yosemite National Park)

Host/habitat. Didesmococcus unifasciatus , Eulecanium ficiphilum (nec ficifilum), E. nocivum , E. sericeum , E. tiliae , E. sp., Parthenolecanium corni , P. persicae , P. rufulum , Physokermes jezoensis , Rhodococcus perornatus , R. spiraeae , R. turanicus , Sphaerolecanium prunastri , Stotzia maxima

Remarks. This is a Holarctic species that was originally recorded from California under the junior synonym M. titiani Girault (1917a) .

xanthopsis Compere 1926b: 41

Type. USNM

Distribution. N (Alameda, Amador, Calaveras, Contra Costa, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Marin, Napa, Placer, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Stanislaus, Tulare, Yolo)

Host/habitat. Parthenolecanium corni , P. persicae

Remarks. Noyes (2001) mistakenly recorded this species from Japan.

yolandae Compere 1926b: 39

Type. USNM

Distribution. C (Alameda, Contra Costa, Riverside, San Benito, Solano, Tulare, Yolo) Host/habitat. Kermes cockerelli

Remarks. Noyes (2001) mistakenly recorded this species from Japan.

spp.

Remarks. I have seen specimens that appear to represent an additional seven morphospecies present in the state (EMEC, LACM, RLZC, SBMN, UCFC, UCRC). One of these species had previously ( Dreistadt & Hagen, 1994) been reported as a parasitoid of Eriococcus spurius , and it is not clear if it is a native species or if it had been introduced into the state.