Telsimia nitida Chapin, 1926

Swezey, O. H., 1942, Miscellaneous Families of Guam Coleoptera, Insects of Guam I, Honolulu, Hawaii: Bernice P. Bishop Museum, pp. 150-171 : 160-161

9. Telsimia nitida Chapin ,

Biol. Soc. Washington, Proc. 39: 131, 1926.

Piti , May 2, Sept. 17, Oct. 25, 29, Swezey; Upi Trail , May 5, Swezey; Inarajan , May 7, Swezey, Bryan ; Mt. Alifan , May 21, Swezey; Agana, May 25, 30, Usinger, Swezey; Tumon, May 30, Swezey; Sinajana , June 8, 15, Swezey; Ypan , June 8, Usinger; Barrigada , June 12, July 6, Usinger, Swezey.

This tiny black ladybeetle was described from specimens collected in Guam in 1911 by Fullaway, and later by Edwards; Evans and Vandenberg. When Aspidiotus destructor was noted as injurious to coconut leaves in 1923, this ladybeetle was found associated with the scale. It was determined by Schultze as Cryptogonus orbiculus var. nigripennis . Later, Bryant of the British Musett1n gave the name as Cryptogonus nigripennis Weise. These names were used in reports of the Guam Agricultural Experiment Station. In 1927 it was reported to have effected complete control of the coconut scale in Guam. This control has continued, for in 1936 we found only scattered small infestations of the scale, and always the ladybeetles were present.

In November, the ladybeetles were found at Piti on bamboo infested with a different kind of scale, in sufficient munbers so that they were collected for shipment by Clipper plane to Honolulu . These were liberated on infestations of Pinnaspis buxi on Monstera at the Foster Park, and on coconut at Hanalei, Kauai. In both places they became well established. In about a year they became numerous enough at Hanalei so as to be collected for distribution. Determined by E. A. Chapin, U. S..National Museum.