Rediscovery of Serangium montazerii Fürsch in Georgia and updated list of the Coccinellidae of Georgia

Abstract

This article provides an updated list of the Coccinellidae of Georgia, recording 84 species. Serangium montazerii Fürsch nec S. parcesetosum Sicard is also rehabilitated as a species actually present in the country.

Discovery of Serangium montazerii Fürsch (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) as a predator of Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Quaintance) (Hemiptera, Aleyrodidae) in Italy

“…On the basis of the morphological characters, the recovered ladybugs were identified as Serangium montazerii Fürsch, 1995 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae, Microweiseinae, Serangiini). The species was distinguished from the most similar congeneric species S. parcesetosum with the morphological keys published by Bienkowski (2018), Booth and Polaszek (1996), Migeon and Arabuli (2022) and Poorani (1998).…”

“…In the present study, the specimens collected were identified as S. montazerii on the basis of the morphological characters (eyes interocular distance and male right paramere) indicated by Bienkowski (2018), Booth and Polaszek (1996), Migeon and Arabuli (2022) and Poorani (1998). Furthermore, the high molecular similarity between our specimens and those collected in Pakistan further strengthens our attribution to S. montazerii of the specimens collected in Sicily.…”

“…Currently, S. montazerii , in addition to its area of origin of North India and Pakistan (Poorani, 1998, 2002), is reported from Iran (Biranvan et al, 2016; Fürsch, 1995; Hajizadeh et al, 2002; Mesbah et al, 2016), Russia (Bienkowski & Orlova‐Bienkowskaja, 2020; Izhevsky, 1990; Maslyakov & Izhevsky, 2011), Thailand (Poorani, 2002), Georgia (Booth & Polaszek, 1996; Migeon & Arabuli, 2022; Timofeyeva & Nhûan, 1978) and Syria (Booth & Polaszek, 1996). However, it should be ascertained whether the specimens classified as S. parcesetosum in the Aegean and South Mediterranean coast of Türkiye (Uygun et al, 1997; Yiğit, 1992), Israel (Argov, 1980; Halperin et al, 1995), Syria (Abboud & Ahmad, 1998, 2006), France (Malausa et al, 1988) and Uganda (Wamani et al, 2018) can be regarded as S. montazerii .…”