Abstract
The members of
Coccinellidae
are among the most important biological control agents being used throughout the world. The objective of this study was to provide the current scenario of this family in Saudi Arabia. Collection surveys of ladybird individuals were conducted throughout Saudi Arabia. A total of 5400 specimens of
Coccinellidae
were collected belonging to 51 species in 19 genera and seven tribes:
Sticholotidini
(2 genera / 10 species),
Coccidulini
(1/3),
Scymnini
(4/24),
Diomini
(1/1),
Hyperaspidini
(1/3),
Chilocorini
(3/8),
Noviini
(1/3),
Coccinellini
(8/11),
Epilachnini
(2/2). One genus,
Clitostethus
, and eight species and subspecies,
Cheilomenes
lunata
lunata
(Fabricius, 1775),
Clitostethus
arcuatus
(Rossi, 1794),
Nephus
ornatulus
Korschefsky, 1931,
N.
nigricans
(Weise, 1879),
Pharoscymnus
fleischeri
(Weise, 1883),
Novius
yemenensis
Raimundo & Fürsch, 2006,
Scymnus
(
Scymnus
)
scapuliferus
Mulsant, 1850, and
Stethorus
endrodyi
Fürsch, 1970, are reported as new records to Saudi Arabia. Two endemic species,
Scymnus
agrumi
and
S.
arabicus
, were recorded. This study also describes the geographical distribution for each species and the diagnostic characters for new records.