THE BIOLOGY AND TAXONOMY OF HYPERASPIS-PANTHERINA (COLEOPTERA, COCCINELLIDAE) AND THE CLASSICAL BIOLOGICAL-CONTROL OF ITS PREY, ORTHEZIA-INSIGNIS (HOMOPTERA, ORTHEZIIDAE)
Rg. Booth et al., THE BIOLOGY AND TAXONOMY OF HYPERASPIS-PANTHERINA (COLEOPTERA, COCCINELLIDAE) AND THE CLASSICAL BIOLOGICAL-CONTROL OF ITS PREY, ORTHEZIA-INSIGNIS (HOMOPTERA, ORTHEZIIDAE), Bulletin of entomological research, 85(3), 1995, pp. 307-314
Between 1908 and 1959, the predatory coccinellid, Hyperaspis pantherin
a Fursch, was released for the biological control of the ensign scale
Orthezia insignis Browne in Hawaii, four African countries and Peru. S
ubstantial control was reported after all the releases, although the o
utcome was disputed in Malawi. Other coccinellid species and predatory
Diptera were released against Orthezia spp. in various programmes fro
m 1952 to 1977. In most cases these agents failed to establish, and th
ere were no reported effects on the target Orthezia spp. In 1993, H. p
antherina was released in St Helena for the control of O. insignis on
the endemic gumwood tree, Commidendrum robustum (Compositae). Preparat
ory investigations for this release revealed that the taxonomy and bio
logy of this biocontrol agent were poorly known. Hyperaspis pantherina
is redescribed and shown to be the correct name for the species previ
ously known incorrectly as H. jocosa (Mulsant). Hyperaspis laeta Gorha
m and H. levrati (Mulsant) are transferred to the genus Cyra Mulsant (
comb. n.). Hyperaspis metator (Casey) (stat. rev.) is resurrected from
synonymy with H. levrati auctt. Studies of the life history revealed
that H. pantherina normally lays its eggs directly onto the adult fema
le O. insignis and that the first two instars of the larvae are freque
ntly passed inside the ovisac of the female host, after which the host
itself is often consumed. The information on the biology and taxonomy
of H. pantherina, together with details of culturing methods, should
facilitate the further use of this agent for the classical biological
control of O. insignis, a pantropical pest.