An annotated checklist of ladybeetle species (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) of Portugal, including the Azores and Madeira Archipelagos

Abstract

A comprehensive annotated checklist of the ladybeetle species of Portugal, including the Azores and Madeira archipelagos, is presented. The Coccinellidae fauna comprises a total of 101 species: 83 from the Mainland, 39 from Madeira, and 32 from the Azores. The listed species are distributed among 2 sub-families and 13 tribes: within the subfamily Microweiseinae, Madeirodulini (1 species), Serangiini (2 species), and within the subfamily Coccinellinae, Azyini (1 species), Chilocorini (4 species), Coccidulini (7 species), Coccinellini (30 species), Epilachnini (4 species), Hyperaspidini (7 species), Noviini (2 species), Platynaspini (1 species), Scymnini (37 species), Stethorini (3 species), and Sticholotidini (2 species). The Portuguese fauna comprises 10 exotic species: 5 present in the Mainland, 7 in Madeira, and 6 in the Azores. Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) from Madeira, Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) from the Azores, Delphastus catalinae (Horn, 1895) from the Azores and Madeira, Nephus (Geminosipho) reunioni (Fürsch, 1974) and Nephus (Nephus) voeltzkowi Weise, 1910 from Madeira and Microserangium sp. from the Mainland, are reported for the first time. Some species are considered doubtful records, as explained in the text. These results were obtained by compiling information on the available literature regarding ladybeetle species on the Portuguese mainland and insular territories, and original data.

Development of the European Ladybirds Smartphone Application: A Tool for Citizen Science

“…Scientists and students undertake field work and training to collect and record ladybirds. Under this project, two important outputs were already produced; an updated checklist of the ladybird species of Portugal, including the Azores and Madeira archipelagos (Soares et al, 2021) and a biodiversity database of ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) of the Azores archipelago (in prep.). There is no equivalent project for mainland Portugal, so the European Ladybird App will enable widespread recording of ladybirds in the country.…”

An updated checklist to the biodiversity data of ladybeetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) of the Azores Archipelago (Portugal)

“… Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1758), despite being previously listed to the Azores, but without island details by Soares et al (2021b) , is now recorded for the first time to Faial island. Oenopia doublieri (Mulsant, 1846) was recently recorded as new for the Azores by Borges et al (2018) (Terceira Island in Paúl da Praia da Vitória) and now is recorded to an additional island (Faial).…”

“…Currently, the number of known species of ladybeetles in the Azores is 32 species ( Soares et al 2021b ). The current list includes 30 confirmed species and two doubtful records (Table 3 ) and most of them considered exotic introduced species (n = 24) and only eight species are considered native.…”

“…Five alien species to the Palearctic Region were introduced in this region, as biological control agents of crop pests: Delphastus catalinae (Horn, 1895), Nephus ( Geminosipho ) reunioni (Fürsch, 1974), Novius cardinalis (Mulsant, 1850), Rhyzobius forestieri (Mulsant, 1853) and Rhyzobius lophanthae (Blaisdell, 1892) ( Soares et al 2021b ).…”

“…The family Coccinellidae contains between 6000 and 7000 described species ( Seago et al 2011 ). Currently the number of Coccinellidae known for Azores is 32, including two doubtful records ( Soares et al 2021b ).…”