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State of knowledge of the ladybird beetle (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) fauna of Armenia and other Transcaucasian countries, including two new country records
expand article infoShoghik Ghazaryan‡, Marine Arakelyan‡, Astghik Ghazaryan‡, Jerzy Romanowski§, Krzysztof Turlejski§, Piotr Ceryngier§
‡ Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia
§ Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, Warsaw, Poland

Corresponding author: Piotr Ceryngier ( p.ceryngier@uksw.edu.pl )

Academic editor: Fedor Konstantinov
© 2024 Shoghik Ghazaryan, Marine Arakelyan, Astghik Ghazaryan, Jerzy Romanowski, Krzysztof Turlejski, Piotr Ceryngier.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Ghazaryan S, Arakelyan M, Ghazaryan A, Romanowski J, Turlejski K, Ceryngier P (2024) State of knowledge of the ladybird beetle (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) fauna of Armenia and other Transcaucasian countries, including two new country records. ZooKeys 1221: 71-102. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1221.127225
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4347F47D-D5CE-4562-917C-FD215FE50729
Open Access

Abstract

Beetles (Coleoptera) have been surveyed in Armenia and other Transcaucasian countries since the first half of the 19th century. Based on the literature reports and our new data, available information was gathered on the occurrence in Armenia of one of the beetle families, the ladybirds (Coccinellidae). 84 species of Coccinellidae have been reported from this country in the literature and/or collected during our recent field survey. Two of them, Anatis ocellata (Linnaeus, 1758) and Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1761), have not been reported in the literature but were present in our field samples, so they can be considered species new to Armenia, and signify new country records. In addition to the 84 species unambiguously reported from Armenia, 14 were broadly reported from larger regions that include that country (Transcaucasia, the Caucasus) or its parts (the Araks valley). The recognized Coccinellidae fauna of Armenia is slightly poorer than the faunas of other Transcaucasian countries (Azerbaijan and Georgia): there are 92 species currently known to occur in Azerbaijan and 90 species in Georgia. Interestingly, the Armenian fauna contains more Caucasian endemics (10 species) and fewer non-natives (1 species) than the faunas of Azerbaijan (4 endemics and 2 non-natives) and Georgia (6 endemics and 6 non-natives).

Key words

Biodiversity, checklist, endemic species, non-native species, South Caucasus

Introduction

The Caucasus ecoregion, a mountainous area on the border between south-eastern Europe and western Asia, covers the North Caucasus (part of Russia), the South Caucasus or Transcaucasia (Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, plus smaller separatist areas of South Ossetia and Abkhazia), north-eastern Turkey, and north-western Iran (Zazanashvili et al. 2020). Some parts of the region, such as Colchis (western Georgia) or the southern Caspian basin (south-eastern Azerbaijan and northern Iran), were Pleistocene glacial refugia (Hewitt 1999; Tarkhnishvili et al. 2012). Due to its immense biological diversity, which is at risk of rapid decline, the Caucasus was ranked by Myers et al. (2000) among the 25 globally recognized biodiversity hotspots. Shortly afterwards, part of its area (a small portion of southern Georgia, approximately half of Armenia and the Azerbaijani enclave of Nakhchivan) was moved to the newly distinguished Irano-Anatolian hotspot (Mittermeier et al. 2004). As a result, the Caucasus ecoregion is divided between two of the 36 currently identified biodiversity hotspots (Zazanashvili et al. 2020). As Mumladze et al. (2020) point out, the region has probably been less intensively studied than many other hotspots, partly due to its tenuous political situation over the past decades.

As a country divided by the border between the Caucasus and Irano-Anatolian hotspots, Armenia is arguably an area of particularly high but as yet insufficiently recognized biodiversity. The Armenian invertebrate fauna, due to the influence of different surrounding faunas (European, Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian), as well as the diversity of landscapes and mountainous nature of the area, is rich and characterized by a high level of endemism (Kalashian et al. 2023). In this paper, we review the available data on a small part of this biodiversity, the ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae). So far, there is no paper summarizing knowledge of the ladybird fauna of Armenia, while checklists of Coccinellidae of the other Transcaucasian states, Georgia and Azerbaijan, have recently been published (Migeon and Arabuli 2022; Snegovaya and Zare Khormizi 2022). Furthermore, the ladybirds of the westernmost portion of the Russian Caucasus along the Black Sea coast were the subject of the recent, detailed study by Bieńkowski and Orlova-Bienkowskaja (2020). Hereafter, we first outline a history of coleopterological (with special reference to Coccinellidae) exploration of Armenia followed by an annotated checklist of the Armenian ladybirds based on the literature data and our unpublished records. Finally, we compare ladybird faunas of the three Transcaucasian countries, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. We realize that most animals do not respect political boundaries, and that it would be much more biologically sound to compare the faunas of biogeographical units instead of countries. However, this would not be easy to do, given that in many cases the provided record location data is very general. Moreover, the recently published checklists for Georgian and Azerbaijani ladybirds indicate that it would be worthwhile to compile an analogous checklist for Armenia.

A brief history of faunistic studies of Coccinellidae in Armenia and adjacent regions

While there is a lack of publications presenting detailed studies on the Coccinellidae fauna of Armenia, there is much data on this family scattered in books and papers of a broader scope (e.g., on insects or beetles of the region). Furthermore, some systematic works on Coccinellidae, such as species descriptions or taxonomic revisions, contain data from Armenia. Surveys and publications that have particularly contributed to the knowledge of the ladybird fauna of the Caucasus and Armenia are reviewed below in chronological order.

Entomological exploration of the Caucasus began in the first half of the 19th century. In 1827, during the Russo-Persian War, a researcher named Szovitz travelled with the Russian army to Transcaucasia to study the flora of the region. In addition to the numerous plants he collected there until 1830, he also caught some insect specimens. On his way back from the expedition, Szovitz fell ill and subsequently died in the Georgian province of Mingrelia in August 1830 (Faldermann 1835). The insects he collected were later examined by Faldermann (1835, 1837, 1838).

Another scientific expedition to the Caucasus organized by order of the Russian Tsar took place in 1829 and 1830, with the French naturalist Édouard Ménétries (1802–1861) in charge of the zoological part. After the expedition, Ménétries (1832) published a catalogue of recorded animal species, but independently Faldermann (1835, 1837, 1838) united the data on beetles collected by Ménétries with those collected by Szovitz to compile his ‘Fauna Entomologica Trans-Caucasica’.

In 1834 and 1835, the Caucasian entomofauna (mainly Coleoptera) was surveyed by the well-known Russian entomologist Victor Ivanovich Motschulsky, who often signed his works as T. Victor (Victor 1835, 1837). Then, probably in the 1840s and early 1850s, Wagner (1852) spent several years in the Caucasus, Transcaucasia, Armenia, Kurdistan, and western Persia, studying, among other things, the fauna of the region, including beetles. Other major 19th century expeditions to the Caucasus involving beetle collecting were those of Schneider and Leder in 1875–1876 (Schneider and Leder 1879) and Leder in 1878 (Leder 1879).

Apart from externally organized Caucasian expeditions, from the 1860s onwards the region was explored as part of the activities of the Caucasus Museum in Tiflis (now Tbilisi). During numerous field trips, the museum’s director Gustav Radde and his colleagues collected abundant insect material, subsequently elaborated by eminent entomologists of the time. The animals, including beetles, held in the collection of the Caucasus Museum, were catalogued by Radde (1899).

In most of the publications reporting on the results of the surveys mentioned above, the locations are given imprecisely and many records cannot be attributed to the area of any currently existing country within its present borders. Based on Ménétries’ (1832) description of his expedition, we can conclude that it took place outside of present-day Armenia (the present-day Russian Caucasus (including Dagestan and Chechnya) and Azerbaijan), but Szovitz’s records are likely to have originated there. However, Faldermann’s (1837) compilation does not indicate which of the reported species were collected by Ménétries and which by Szovitz. The area explored by Wagner’s (1852) expedition was extensive, but his report lacks any information on the location of the animals collected. On the other hand, Wagner’s list of the collected insects is very short and the family Coccinellidae is represented there by only three or four species (two of the four listed names are probably synonyms). Relatively detailed information on the location of the collected species of Coccinellidae can be found in the papers by Motschulsky (Victor 1837), Schneider and Leder (1879), Leder (1879), and Radde (1899). While Leder (1879) reported exclusively from the territories of present-day Georgia and Azerbaijan, some ladybird species reported by Motschulsky (Victor 1837) and, especially, Schneider and Leder (1879) and Radde (1899), were certainly collected within the present Armenian territory.

The first half of the 20th century was a time of marked stagnation in the study of the coleopterofauna of the Caucasus. In the second half of the century, the renowned Armenian coleopterist Stepan Iablokoff-Khnzorian conducted his systematic and faunistic research, much of which was devoted to Coccinellidae (e.g., Iablokoff-Khnzorian 1971, 1972, 1974, 1982, 1983). Iablokoff-Khnzorian was primarily a taxonomist, paying little attention to providing geographical details for each of the species he recorded. Therefore, as in some of the 19th century publications, the distribution data he provided often do not allow for a clear attribution to a specific country. After the period of Iablokoff-Khnzorian’s research activities, from the 1990s to the present, virtually nothing has been published on ladybirds of Armenia, with the exception of reports by Kalashian et al. (2017, 2019) on the arrival and spread of the invasive harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773), in that country.

Checklist of Coccinellidae reported from Armenia

The checklist includes available literature reports supplemented by previously unpublished data collected between 2018 and 2023 in all 11 provinces of Armenia by MA, AG, and M. Kalashian (National Academy of Sciences, Yerevan). The new data were recorded using standard collection methods, such as a beating tray, sweep net, or direct observation. Specimens collected by MA and AG are deposited in Research Institute of Biology of Yerevan State University, and those collected by M. Kalashian, in the Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology, National Academy of Science, Yerevan.

The systematic arrangement of Coccinellidae, including the sequence of tribes, used in the checklist below follows Che et al. (2021) and the nomenclature of genera and species follows Kovář (2007). To our knowledge, for all species included in this checklist, the names provided by Kovář (2007) are valid. They are given here in bold, while the primary synonyms (provided if different from the valid names) and other synonyms (only those mentioned in the checklist) are in non-bold. The genera and species within the tribes are arranged alphabetically. Names of species that are possible but not certain to occur in Armenia (only generally reported from regions encompassing this country or its parts) are in square brackets to distinguish them from those unquestionably reported from the area of present-day Armenia. For individual species, we first provide new data (if available), including the name of the province, locality, geographical coordinates, altitude, date of collection, number of specimens collected, and the collector’s name. We then list the literature reports, starting with those pointing unambiguously to Armenia and then moving on to more general location descriptions that do not exclude Armenia, such as the “Araks valley”, “Transcaucasia”, or the “Caucasus”. At present, Araks’ river source and initial course lie in Turkey, which then flows along the Turkish-Armenian border, next the border between Turkey and Nakhchivan, Iran and Nakhchivan, Iran and Armenia, and Iran and Azerbaijan. Finally, it flows to the Kura River on the Azerbaijani territory.

Subfamily Coccinellinae Latreille, 1807

Tribe Stethorini Dobzhansky, 1924

Stethorus gilvifrons (Mulsant, 1850)

Scymnus gilvifrons Mulsant, 1850

Literature data. Armenia: Schneider and Leder (1879) (Echmiadzin, Yerevan); Jacobson (1915); Kovář (2007). Araks valley: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983).

Stethorus pusillus (Herbst, 1797)

Scymnus pusillus Herbst, 1797

Literature data. Armenia: Kovář (2007). Caucasus: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983).

Tribe Coccinellini Latraille, 1807

Adalia bipunctata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Coccinella bipunctata Linnaeus, 1758

Coccinella fasciatopunctata Faldermann, 1835

New data. Kotayk: • Tsaghkadzor, 40.5314°N, 44.7249°E, 1841 m a.s.l., Jul. 2021, 5 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Gegharkunik: • Akunk, 40.1572°N, 45.7263°E, 1965 m a.s.l., 19 Oct. 2020, 4 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Vayots Dzor: • Hors, 39.8625°N, 45.2303°E, 1694 m a.s.l., 23 Jul. 2021, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Armavir: • river Kasagh, 40.1047°N, 44.2360°E, 870 m a.s.l., 1 Jun. 2021, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Syunik: • Lichk, 39.6074°N, 46.1113°E, 1929 m a.s.l., 17 May 2022, 8 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Aragatsotn: • Kar­bi, 40.3233°N, 44.3800°E, 1303 m a.s.l., 22 Jun. 2019, 2 exx. (leg. A. Ghazaryan).

Literature data. Armenia: Kovář (2007). Caucasus: Heyden et al. (1891, 1906) (as Adalia fasciatopunctata stictica Muls.); Jacobson (1915) (as A. fasciatopunctata Fald.); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983).

Adalia decempunctata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Coccinella decempunctata Linnaeus, 1758

New data. Kotayk: • Hankavan, 40.6019°N, 44.6185°E, 1990 m a.s.l., 25.06.2021, 2 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan); • Tsaghkadzor, 40.5313°N, 44.7249°E, 1841 m a.s.l., July, 2021, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Syunik: • Shenatagh, 39.38°N, 46.1322°E, 2500 m a.s.l., 18.06.2021, 1 ex. (leg. A. Ghazaryan); • Lichk, 39.6073°N, 46.1113°E, 1929 m a.s.l., 17.05.2022, 12 exx.; • Harsnadzor rest., 39.3927°N, 46.2784°E, 1929 m a.s.l., 18.05.2022, 2 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan).

Literature data. Armenia: Schneider and Leder (1879); Jacobson (1915); Kovář (2007). Caucasus: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1982, 1983).

Anatis ocellata (Linnaeus, 1758), new country record

Coccinella ocellata Linnaeus, 1758

New data. Kotayk: • Tsaghkadzor, 40.5313°N, 44.7249°E, 1841 m a.s.l., July, 2021, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan).

Literature data. Caucasus: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1982, 1983).

Remarks. Prior to the record provided above, A. ocellata has not been explicitly reported as occurring in Armenia.

Anisosticta caucasica (Fleischer, 1900)

Adonia arctica v. caucasica Fleischer, 1900

Literature data. Armenia: Jacobson (1915) (as Hippodamia arctica subsp. caucasica Fleisch.); Kovář (2007). Araks valley: Fleischer (1900) (as Adonia arctica v. caucasica). Caucasus: Heyden et al. (1906) (as Hippodamia arctica v. caucasica Fleischer), Winkler (1927) (as H. arctica ?s. caucasica Fleisch.).

Remarks. There is no consensus on what Fleischer’s (1900) A. arctica v. caucasica really is. While Fürsch (1977) and Kovář (2007) considered it as a distinct species belonging to the genus Anisosticta, according to Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1982, 1983), it is a synonym of Hippodamia (Semiadalia) schneideri (Weise, 1878). In his opinion, Fleischer’s type is a small, untypically colored specimen of H. (Semiadalia) (= Ceratomegilla) schneideri.

Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Coccinella novemdecimpunctata Linnaeus, 1758

Anisosticta egena Weise, 1887

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983) (whole Caucasus); Kovář (2007). Caucasus: Heyden et al. (1891) (as A. 19-punctata v. egena Ws.); Heyden et al. (1906) (as A. egena Ws.).

Aphidecta obliterata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Coccinella obliterata Linnaeus, 1758

Literature data. Armenia: Kovář (2007). Caucasus: Winkler (1927).

Bulaea lichatschovii (Hummel, 1827)

Coccinella Lichatschovii Hummel, 1827

Literature data. Armenia: Schneider and Leder (1879) (Echmiadzin); Jacobson (1915); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983) (whole Caucasus); Kovář (2007). Araks valley: Radde (1899) (as B. Lichatschovi var. coronata Weise.). Transcaucasia: Faldermann (1837). Caucasus: Weise (1879, 1885) (as B. Lichatschovii v. coronata Ws.); Heyden et al. (1891, 1906) (as B. Lichatschovi v. coronata Ws.).

[Bulaea lividula bocandei Mulsant, 1850]

Bulaea Bocandei Mulsant, 1850

Literature data. Caucasus: Weise (1885) (as B. Lichatschovii v. pallida Motsch.).

Remark. Biranvand et al. (2024) consider B. lividula bocandei a separate species, B. bocandei Mulsant, 1850.

Calvia decemguttata (Linnaeus, 1767)

Coccinella decemguttata Linnaeus, 1767

Calvia hololeuca Mulsant, 1850 (synonymized by Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1972))

Literature data. Armenia: Kovář (2007). Caucasus: Mulsant (1850, 1866) (as Calvia hololeuca); Weise (1879, 1885) (as Halyzia decemguttata v. hololeuca Muls.); Heyden et al. (1891) (as Halyzia decemguttata v. hololeuca Muls.); Heyden et al. (1906) (as Calvia 10-guttata v. hololeuca Muls.); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1972).

Calvia quatuordecimguttata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Coccinella quatuordecimguttata Linnaeus, 1758

Propylaea Rosti Weise, 1891

New data. Kotayk: • Tsaghkadzor, 40.5313°N, 44.7249°E, 1841 m a.s.l., July, 2021, 2 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Syunik: • Lichk, 39.6073°N, 46.1113°E, 1929 m a.s.l., 17.05.2022, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan).

Literature data. Armenia: Kovář (2007). Caucasus: Heyden et al. (1906) (as Propylaea Rosti Ws.); Jacobson (1915) (as Propylaea Rosti Ws.); Winkler (1927) (as Propylaea Rosti Ws.).

[Calvia quindecimguttata (Fabricius, 1777)]

Coccinella quindecimguttata Fabricius, 1777

Literature data. Caucasus: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1982, 1983).

Ceratomegilla apicalis (Weise, 1879)

Adalia apicalis Weise, 1879

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1982, 1983); Kovář (2007). Caucasus: Weise (1885); Heyden et al. (1891, 1906); Winkler (1927).

Ceratomegilla notata (Laicharting, 1781)

Coccinella notata Laitcharting, 1781

Literature data. Armenia: Kovář (2007). Caucasus: Heyden et al. (1906); Winkler (1927).

Ceratomegilla schelkovnikovi (Dobzhansky, 1927)

Semiadalia shelkovnikovi Dobzhansky, 1927

Literature data. Armenia: Dobzhansky (1927) (lake Sevan, Yerevan); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983); Kovář (2007).

Remarks. Dobzhansky’s original spelling of the specific epithet is ‘shelkovnikovi’. Type locality: lake Sevan (Goktsha-See) in Armenia.

Ceratomegilla schneideri (Weise, 1878)

Coccinella Schneideri Weise, 1878

Literature data. Armenia: Schneider and Leder (1879) (Alexandrapol (=Gyumri)); Jacobson (1915); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983); Kovář (2007). Caucasus: Weise (1879) (as Adalia Schneideri Ws.); Weise (1885); Heyden et al. (1891, 1906); Winkler (1927).

Ceratomegilla undecimnotata (Schneider, 1792)

Coccinella undecimnotata Schneider, 1792

Coccinella Saliana Faldermann, 1837

Coccinella maritima Ménétries, 1832

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1982); Kovář (2007); Ceryngier et al. (2023) (Tigranashen, as a host of a hymenopterous parasitoid Dinocampus coccinellae (Schrank)). Transcaucasia: Faldermann (1837) (as Coccinella Saliana Fald. and C. maritima Ménétries). Caucasus: Weise (1879) (as Adalia undecimnotata Schneid.); Weise (1885); Radde (1899).

Coccinella alpigrada (Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1957)

Adalia alpigrada Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1957

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1957, 1982, 1983); Kovář (2007).

Remarks. Described from Armenia. Type locality: Yanykh, Martuni region (province Gegharkunik).

Coccinella magnifica Redtenbacher, 1843

Coccinella distincta Faldermann, 1837

New data. Kotayk: • Arzakan, 40.4494°N, 44.6063°E, 1489 m a.s.l., 07.06.2021, 5 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan).

Literature data. Armenia: Kovář (2007). Transcaucasia: Faldermann (1837) (as C. distincta); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983). Caucasus: Weise (1885) (as C. distincta Faldermann); Heyden et al. (1891, 1906) (as C. distincta Fald.); Winkler (1927) (as C. divaricata Ol.).

Coccinella quinquepunctata Linnaeus, 1758

Coccinella tripunctata Rossi, 1790

Literature data. Armenia: Victor (1837) (as Coccinella 3 punctata Rossi); Mulsant (1866) (as Coccinella tripunctata Rossi), Kovář (2007).

Remarks. Kovář (2007) considers Coccinella tripunctata Rossi, 1790 a synonym of C. quinquepunctata. However, according to Crotch (1874), C. tripunctata Rossi is a variety of Coccinella undecimpunctata L. Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983) states that C. quinquepunctata is present in the Caucasus, but not in Armenia.

Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus, 1758

New data. Syunik: • Shenatagh, 39.38°N, 46.1322°E, 2500 m a.s.l., 18.06.2021, 5 exx. (leg. A. Ghazaryan); • Kajaran, 39.1511°N, 46.16°E, 1950 m a.s.l., 13.06.2021, 14 exx. (leg. A. Ghazaryan); • Zvaravank Monastery, 39.0472°N, 46.1694°E, 1815 m a.s.l., 16.05.2022, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan); • Meghri, 38.9029°N, 46.2445°E, 610 m a.s.l., 15.05.2022, 4 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan); • Lichk, 39.6073°N, 46.1113°E, 1929 m

a.s.l., 17.05.2022, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Ararat: • Azat reservoir, 40.07138°N, 44.6161°E, 1025 m a.s.l., 20.09.2021, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan); • Khosrov, 40.0458°N, 44.8982°E, 1465 m a.s.l., 28.05.2021, 2 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Lori: • Mets Parni, 40.8372°N, 44.1091°E, 1680 m a.s.l., 05.06.2020, 22.06.2020, 2 ex. (leg. M. Arake­lyan); Vayots Dzor: • Hors, 39.8625°N, 45.2302°E, 1694 m a.s.l., 12.06.2021, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan); • Horbategh, 39.8902°N, 45.3541°E, 1850 m a.s.l., 04.06.2023, 3 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Tavush: • Voskepar, 41.0647°N, 45.0575°E, 850 m a.s.l., 26.09.2020, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Gegharkunik: • Dzoragyugh, 40.1694°N, 45.1986°E, 2003 m a.s.l., 06.06.2021, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Kotayk: • Tsagh­kadzor, 40.5313°N, 44.7249°E, 1841 m a.s.l., June 2023, 3 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan).

Literature data. Armenia: Jacobson (1915) (the whole Caucasus); Kovář (2007). Caucasus: Victor (1837).

Coccinella undecimpunctata Linnaeus, 1758

Literature data. Armenia: Radde (1899) (Meghri); Jacobson (1915).

Coccinula quatuordecimpustulata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Coccinella quatuordecimpustulata Linnaeus, 1758

New data. Lori: • Mets Parni, 40.8372°N, 44.1091°E, 1680 m a.s.l., 22.08.2018, 9 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Syunik: • Lichk, 39.6073°N, 46.1113°E, 1929 m a.s.l., 17.05.2022, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Kotayk: • Gegard, 40.1553°N, 44.7913°E, 1759 m a.s.l., 22.05.2022, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan); • Tsaghkadzor, 40.5313°N, 44.7249°E, 1841 m a.s.l., June 2023, 2 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Ararat: • Khosrov, 40.0458°N, 44.8982°E, 1465 m a.s.l., 28.05.2021, 2 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Vayots Dzor: • Hors, 39.8625°N, 45.2302°E, 1694 m a.s.l., 12.06.2021, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan).

Literature data. Armenia: Radde (1899) (Helenowka (= Sevan)); Jacobson (1915); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1982, 1983); Kovář (2007).

Coccinula sinuatomarginata (Faldermann, 1837)

Coccinella sinuato-marginata Faldermann, 1837

New data. Syunik: • Lichk, 39.6073°N, 46.1113°E, 1929 m a.s.l., 17.05.2022, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan).

Literature data. Armenia: Jacobson (1915); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1982, 1983); Kovář (2007). Transcaucasia: Faldermann (1837) (as Coccinella sinuatomarginata). Caucasus: Mulsant (1850, 1866) (as Coccinella sinuato-marginata Faldermann); Weise (1879, 1885); Heyden et al. (1906) (as Synharmonia sinuatomarginata Fald.).

Halyzia sedecimguttata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Coccinella sedecimguttata Linnaeus, 1758

New data. Kotayk: • Tsaghkadzor, 40.5313°N, 44.7249°E, 1841 m a.s.l., July 2021, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan).

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1982); Kovář (2007). Caucasus: Winkler (1927); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983).

Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773)

Coccinella axyridis Pallas, 1773

New data. Kotayk: • Tsaghkadzor, 40.5313°N, 44.7249°E, 1841 m a.s.l., July 2021, 2 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan); • Hankavan, 40.6019°N, 44.6185°E, 1990 m a.s.l., 25.06.2021, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Shirak: • Gyumri, 40.7942°N, 43.8452°E, 1509 m a.s.l., 15.10.2020, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Yerevan: • Yerevan State University, 40.1817°N, 44.5261°E, 990 m a.s.l., 27.07.2020, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakel­yan); Aragatsotn: • Karbi, 40.3233°N, 44.3800°E, 1303 m a.s.l., 22.06.2019, 1 ex. (A.Ghazaryan); Lori: • Amrakits, 40.0002°N, 44.4303°E, 1380 m a.s.l., 31.05.2023, 2 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan); • Pushkino, 40.9688°N, 44.4144°E, 1450 m a.s.l., 26.06.2023, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan); • Sanahin, 41.0873°N, 44.6661°E, 1016 m a.s.l., 28.05.2023, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan); • Privolnoye, 41.1709°N, 44.4415°E, 1629 m a.s.l., 14.06.2020, 1 ex. (leg. M. Kalashian); • Gyulagarak, 40.9620°N, 44.4696°E, 1358 m a.s.l., 09.07.2020, 15.07.2020, 20.07.2020, 3 exx. (leg. M. Kalashian); • Kachachkut, 41.1600°N, 44.5852°E, 2510 m a.s.l., 18.07.2021, 1 ex. (leg. M. Kalashian); • Margahovit, 40.70933°N, 44.66645°E, 1918 m a.s.l., 04.07.2021, 1 ex. (leg. M. Kalashian); • Odzun, 41.038577°N, 44.627781°E, 1034 m a.s.l., 30.05.2021, 1 ex. (leg. M. Kalashian); Gegharkunik: • Aygut, 40.6878°N, 45.1473°E, 1268 m a.s.l., 18.07.2020, 1 ex. (leg. M. Kalashian); • Shorzha, 40.49845°N, 45.29701°E, 1938 m a.s.l., 12.07.2021, 1 ex. (leg. M. Ka­lashian); Ararat: • Sipanik, 40.0796°N, 44.3637°E, 843 m a.s.l., 08.09.2020, 1 ex. (leg. M. Kalashian); • Armash, 39.796°N, 44.8415°E, 1203 m a.s.l., 07.08.2021, 1 ex. (leg. M. Kalashian); Tavush: • Gosh, 40.7409°N, 45.0334°E, 1080 m a.s.l., 18.06.2021, 1 ex. (leg. M. Kalashian).

Literature data. Armenia: Kalashian et al. (2017, 2019).

Hippodamia tredecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Coccinella tredecimpunctata Linnaeus, 1758

Hippodamia signata Faldermann, 1837

New data. Vayots Dzor: • Spitakavor church, 39.8297°N, 45.3644°E, 540 m a.s.l., 12.08.2020, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan).

Literature data. Armenia: Jacobson (1915) (as H. tredecimpunctata subsp. signata Fald.) (Yerevan); Kovář (2007). Transcaucasia: Faldermann (1837) (as H. signata Fald.). Caucasus: Weise (1885); Heyden et al. (1891, 1906); Winkler (1927); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1982, 1983).

Hippodamia variegata (Goeze, 1777)

Coccinella variegata Goeze, 1777

New data. Gegharkunik: • Tsovak, 40.1819°N, 45.635°E, 1920 m a.s.l., 04.06.2021, 2 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Ararat: • Ranchpar, 40.0253°N, 44.3703°E, 834 m a.s.l., 05.06.2021, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan); • Khosrov, 40.0458°N, 44.8982°E, 1465 m a.s.l., 28.05.2021, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Vayots Dzor: • Hors, 39.8625°N, 45.2302°E, 1694 m a.s.l., 12.06.2021, 2 exx. (leg. M. Arakel­yan); Kotayk: • Hankavan, 40.6019°N, 44.6185°E, 1990 m a.s.l., 25.06.2021, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Tavush: • Voskepar, 41.0647°N, 45.0575°E, 850 m a.s.l., 26.09.2020, 2 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan).

Literature data. Armenia: Radde (1899) (Echmiadzin); Jacobson (1915) (Yerevan); Kovář (2007); Ceryngier et al. (2023) (Nzhdeh, as a host of D. coccinellae).

Myrrha octodecimguttata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Coccinella octodecimguttata Linnaeus, 1758

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983); Kovář (2007).

Myzia oblongoguttata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Coccinella oblongoguttata Linnaeus, 1758

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1982, 1983). Caucasus: Winkler (1927) (as Paramysia oblongoguttata L.).

Oenopia conglobata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Coccinella conglobata Linnaeus, 1758

New data. Gegharkunik: • Akunk, 40.1572°N, 45.7263°E, 1965 m a.s.l., 19.10.2020, 3 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Ararat: • Ranchpar, 40.0252°N, 44.3702°E, 834 m a.s.l., 05.06.2021, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Kotayk: • Tsaghkadzor, 40.5313°N, 44.7249°E, 1841 m a.s.l., July 2021, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Ar­mavir: • river Kasagh, 40.1046°N, 44.2359°E, 870 m a.s.l., 01.06.2021, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Syunik: • Lichk, 39.6073°N, 46.1113°E, 1929 m a.s.l., 17.05.2022, 2 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan).

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1972); Kovář (2007). Transcaucasia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983).

Oenopia impustulata (Linnaeus, 1767)

Coccinella impustulata Linnaeus, 1767

Coccinella caucasica Motschulsky, 1837 (synonymized by Kovář (2007))

Literature data. Armenia: Kovář (2007). Transcaucasia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983). Caucasus: Victor (1837) (as Coccinella caucasica); Mulsant (1850) (as Harmonia caucasica Motschoulsky); Heyden et al. (1891) (as Harmonia conglobata v. caucasica Motsch.); Heyden et al. (1906) (as Synharmonia conglobata v. caucasica Motsch.); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1972).

Oenopia lyncea agnatha (Rosenhauer, 1847)

Coccinella lyncea agnatha Rosenhauer, 1847

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1982); Kovář (2007). Transcaucasia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983).

Oenopia oncina (Olivier, 1808)

Coccinella oncina Olivier, 1808

Coccinella asiatica Weise, 1885

Coccinella persica Faldermann, 1837

Literature data. Armenia: Schneider and Leder (1879) (as Coccinella persica Faldermann) (Echmiadzin, Tarstschai); Weise (1885) (as Harmonia lyncea v. asiatica Ws. and H. lyncea v. persica Faldermann); Jacobson (1915) (Yerevan); Kovář (2007). Transcaucasia: Faldermann (1837) (as Coccinella persica Faldermann); Heyden et al. (1891) (as Harmonia lyncea v. asiatica Ws.); Heyden et al. (1906) (as Synharmonia oncina a. asiatica Ws.); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983).

Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Coccinella quatuordecimpunctata Linnaeus, 1758

New data. Armavir: • river Kasagh, 40.1046°N, 44.2359°E, 870 m a.s.l., 01.06.2021, 2 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Ararat: • Khosrov, 40.0458°N, 44.8982°E, 1465 m a.s.l., 28.05.2021, 3 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Syunik: • Lichk, 39.6073°N, 46.1113°E, 1929 m a.s.l., 17.05.2022, 3 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Aragatsotn: • Karbi, 40.3233°N, 44.3800°E, 1303 m a.s.l., 22.06.2019, 6 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Lori: • Mets Parni, 40.8372°N, 44.1091°E, 1680 m a.s.l., 22.08.2018, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Kotayk: • Tsagh­kadzor, 40.5313°N, 44.7249°E, 1841 m a.s.l., June 2023, 3 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan).

Literature data. Armenia: Radde (1899) (as Halyzia quatuordecimpunctata L.) (Yerevan); Jacobson (1915) (Yerevan); Kovář (2007); Ceryngier et al. (2023) (Khor Virap, as a host of D. coccinellae). Caucasus: Winkler (1927).

Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Coccinella vigintiduopunctata Linnaeus, 1758

New data. Kotayk: • Tsaghkadzor, 40.5313°N, 44.7249°E, 1841 m a.s.l., July 2021, 1 ex., June 2023, 5 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Syunik: • Lichk, 39.6073°N, 46.1113°E, 1929 m a.s.l., 17.05.2022, 2 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Lori: • Mets Parni, 40.8372°N, 44.1091°E, 1680 m a.s.l., 22.08.2018, 3 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Aragatsotn: • Kar­bi, 40.3233°N, 44.3800°E, 1303 m a.s.l., 22.06.2019, 7 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan).

Literature data. Armenia: Schneider and Leder (1879) (Echmiadzin, Yerevan); Radde (1899) (as Halyzia vigintiduopunctata L.) (Yerevan); Jacobson (1915) (Yerevan); Kovář (2007).

[Tytthaspis gebleri (Mulsant, 1850)]

Micraspis gebleri Mulsant, 1850

Coccinella lineola Gebler, 1843

Literature data. Caucasus: Winkler (1927) (as Tytthaspis lineola Gebl.).

Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1761), new country record

Coccinella sedecimpunctata Linnaeus, 1761

New data. Lori: • Mets Parni, 40.8372°N, 44.1091°E, 1680 m a.s.l., 22.08.2018, 2 exx. (leg. M. Arakelyan); Syunik: • Lichk, 39.6073°N, 46.1113°E, 1929 m a.s.l., 17.05.2022, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan).

Remark. To the best of our knowledge, T. sedecimpunctata has not previously been reported from Armenia.

Vibidia duodecimguttata (Poda von Neuhaus, 1761)

Coccinella duodecimguttata Poda von Neuhaus, 1761

New data. Vayots Dzor: • Hors, 39.8625°N, 45.2302°E, 1694 m a.s.l., 23.07.2021, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan).

Literature data. Armenia: Kovář (2007). Transcaucasia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983).

Tribe Epilachnini Mulsant, 1846

Henosepilachna argus (Geoffroy, 1785)

Coccinella argus Geoffroy, 1785

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1980, 1981, 1983) (Araks valley in Armenia); Kovář (2007). Caucasus: Radde (1899); Jacobson (1915).

Subcoccinella vigintiquatuorpunctata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Coccinella vigintiquatuorpunctata Linnaeus, 1758

Coccinella colchica Motschulsky, 1839

New data. Kotayk: • Arzakan, 40.4494°N, 44.6063°E, 1489 m a.s.l., 07.06.2021, 1 ex. (leg. M. Arakelyan).

Literature data. Armenia: Schneider and Leder (1879) (Alexandrapol (=Gyumri)); Jacobson (1915) (Yerevan); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1980, 1983); Kovář (2007). Caucasus: Mulsant (1850) (as Epilachna colchica Motschoulsky); Heyden et al. (1906); Winkler (1927).

Tribe Scymnini Mulsant, 1846

Clitostethus arcuatus (Rossi, 1794)

Coccinella arcuata Rossi, 1794

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983) (in the Caucasus reaches the Araks valley); Kovář (2007). Caucasus: Winkler (1927).

[Nephus (Bipunctatus) bipunctatus (Kugelann, 1794)]

Scymnus bipunctatus Kugelann, 1794

Literature data. Transcaucasia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983).

Nephus (Nephus) ludyi (Weise, 1879)

Scymnus ludyi Weise, 1879

Nephus ponticus Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1970

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1970a, 1983) (as N. ponticus Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1970) (Yerevan); Kovář (2007).

Nephus (Nephus) quadrimaculatus (Herbst, 1783)

Sphaeridium quadrimaculatum Herbst, 1783

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983) (N Armenia, Yerevan).

Nephus (Sidis) caucasicus (Weise, 1929)

Scymnus caucasicus Weise, 1929

Scymnus plagiatus Weise, 1878

Literature data. Armenia: Schneider and Leder (1879) (as Scymnus plagiatus Weise nov. sp.) (Yerevan); Weise (1879, 1885) (as Scymnus (Nephus) plagiatus Ws.) (Yerevan); Jacobson (1915) (as N. plagiatus Ws.) (Yerevan); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983) Yerevan and its vicinity); Kovář (2007). Caucasus: Heyden et al. (1891, 1906) (as N. plagiatus).

Scymniscus biflammulatus (Motschulsky, 1837)

Scymnus biflammulatus Motschulsky, 1837

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983) (almost whole Caucasus); Kovář (2007). Caucasus: Weise (1879, 1885) (as Scymnus biflammulatus Motsch.); Heyden et al. (1891, 1906) (as Sidis biflammulatus Motsch.); Jacobson (1915) (as Sidis biflammulatus Motsch.); Winkler (1927) (as Sidis biflammulatus Mtsch.).

Scymniscus biguttatus (Mulsant, 1850)

Scymnus biguttatus Mulsant, 1850

Scymnus bipustulatus Motschulsky, 1837

Literature data. Armenia: Jacobson (1915) (as Sidis biguttatus Muls.) (Yerevan). Araks valley: Heyden et al. (1906) (as Sidis biguttatus a. 4-guttatus Fleisch). Caucasus: Weise (1879) (as Scymnus (Sidis) bipustulatus Motsch.); Weise (1885) (as Scymnus (Sidis) biguttatus Muls.); Winkler (1927) (as Sidis biguttatus Muls.).

Scymnus (Mimopullus) pharaonis Motschulsky, 1851

Scymnus pharaonis Motschulsky, 1851

Scymnus (Pullus) araraticus Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1969

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1969, 1972, 1983) (as Scymnus (Pullus) araraticus Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1969) (Kapan region, Yerevan vicinity); Kovář (2007).

Scymnus (Neopullus) haemorrhoidalis Herbst, 1797

Scymnus haemorrhoidalis Herbst, 1797

Literature data. Armenia: Schneider and Leder (1879) (Yerevan); Jacobson (1915) (Yerevan); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983) (whole Caucasus); Kovář (2007).

Scymnus (Neopullus) limbatus Stephens, 1832

Scymnus limbatus Stephens, 1832

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1972, 1983) (Yerevan); Kovář (2007).

Scymnus (Neopullus) testaceus Motschulsky, 1837

Scymnus testaceus Motschulsky, 1837

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1972, 1983) (whole Caucasus). Caucasus: Weise (1879); Heyden et al. (1891, 1906); Radde (1899).

Scymnus (Pullus) argutus Mulsant, 1850

Scymnus argutus Mulsant, 1850

Literature data. Armenia: Mulsant (1850); Weise (1885); Heyden et al. (1891); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1972); Kovář (2007). Araks valley: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983). Caucasus: Winkler (1927).

Remark. Described from Armenia without specifying exact locality (l’Arménie (collect. Motschoulsky)) (Mulsant 1850).

[Scymnus (Pullus) auritus Thunberg, 1795]

Scymnus auritus Thunberg, 1795

Literature data. Caucasus: Winkler (1927).

Scymnus (Pullus) fraxini Mulsant, 1850

Scymnus fraxini Mulsant, 1850

Literature data. Armenia: Kovář (2007). Caucasus: Mulsant (1850); Heyden et al. (1891, 1906); Winkler (1927).

Scymnus (Pullus) subvillosus (Goeze, 1777)

Coccinella subvillosa Goeze, 1777

Literature data. Armenia: Schneider and Leder (1879) (Yerevan); Jacobson (1915) (Yerevan); Kovář (2007). Caucasus: Heyden et al. (1891); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983).

Scymnus (Pullus) suturalis Thunberg, 1795

Scymnus suturalis Thunberg, 1795

Literature data. Armenia: Kovář (2007). Caucasus: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983).

Scymnus (Scymnus) apetzi Mulsant, 1846

Scymnus Apetzii Mulsant, 1846

Scymnus stigmatopterus Faldermann, 1837 (synonymized by Fürsch et al. (1967))

Scymnus corpulentus Mulsant, 1850 (synonymized by Fürsch et al. (1967))

Literature data. Armenia: Schneider and Leder (1879) (Echmiadzin, Yerevan); Radde (1899) (Yerevan); Jacobson (1915) (Yerevan); Fürsch et al. (1967) (lectotype of S. stigmatopterus Fald.) (Sadaraki); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983) (in Transcaucasia the most common Scymnus species); Kovář (2007). Transcaucasia: Faldermann (1837) (as S. stigmatopterus Fald.); Mulsant (1850) (as S. corpulentus). Caucasus: Heyden et al. (1891) (as S. corpulentus Muls.).

Remark. Kovář (2007) places S. stigmatopterus among the taxa incertae sedis.

Scymnus (Scymnus) flavicollis Redtenbacher, 1843

Scymnus frontalis v. araxicola Fleischer, 1900

Literature data. Armenia: Kovář (2007). Araks valley: Fleischer (1900) (as S. frontalis v. araxicola); Heyden et al. (1906) (as S. frontalis a. araxicola Fleisch.); Winkler (1927) (as S. frontalis a. araxicola Fleisch.); Fürsch et al. (1967) (as S. araxicola Fleischer).

Scymnus (Scymnus) frontalis (Fabricius, 1787)

Coccinella frontalis Fabricius, 1787

Scymnus quadrivulneratus Mulsant, 1850 (synonymized by Fürsch et al. (1967))

Literature data. Armenia: Schneider and Leder (1879) (Helenowka (=Sevan)); Jacobson (1915) (Yerevan); Kovář (2007). Caucasus: Heyden et al. (1891) (as S. frontalis bimaculatus Mot.); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983); Winkler (1927) (as S. 4-vulneratus Muls.).

Scymnus (Scymnus) inderihensis Mulsant, 1850

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983).

Scymnus (Scymnus) interruptus (Goeze, 1777)

Coccinella interrupta Goeze, 1777

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983); Kovář (2007).

Scymnus (Scymnus) magnomaculatus Fürsch, 1958

Scymnus quadriguttatus Capra, 1924

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983) (as S. quadriguttatus Capra, 1924); Kovář (2007).

[Scymnus (Scymnus) manipulus Fürsch & Kreissl, 1967]

Literature data. Araks valley: Fürsch et al. (1967).

Scymnus (Scymnus) pallipes Mulsant, 1850

Literature data. Armenia: Fürsch et al. (1967) (Saderaki, Suhulta). Caucasus: Mulsant (1850); Heyden et al. (1891); Heyden et al. (1906) (as S. frontalis pallipes Muls.); Winkler (1927) (as S. frontalis a. pallipes Muls.).

Remark. Fürsch et al. (1967) report that two paralectotypes of this species are from Saderaki and Suhulta in Armenia. The former name certainly refers to Sadarak in Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan, while the location of the latter is unclear to us (Fürsch et al. (1967) also pointed out that the name of the locality on the label is difficult to decipher).

Scymnus (Scymnus) rubromaculatus (Goeze, 1777)

Coccinella rubromaculata Goeze, 1777

Literature data. Armenia: Schneider and Leder (1879) (Echmiadzin, Yerevan); Radde (1899) (Echmiadzin); Jacobson (1915) (Yerevan).

[Scymnus (Scymnus) suffrianioides apetzoides Capra & Fürsch, 1967]

Scymnus apetzoides Capra & Fürsch, 1967

Literature data. Caucasus: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983).

Tribe Platynaspini Mulsant, 1846

Platynaspis luteorubra (Goeze, 1777)

Coccinella luteorubra Goeze, 1777

Scymnus spectabilis Faldermann, 1837

Literature data. Armenia: Schneider and Leder (1879) (Yerevan); Weise (1885); Jacobson (1915) (Yerevan); Kovář (2007). Transcaucasia: Faldermann (1837) (as Scymnus spectabilis Fald.). Caucasus: Winkler (1927); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983).

Tribe Hyperaspidini Mulsant, 1846

[Hyperaspis campestris (Herbst, 1783)]

Coccinella campestris Herbst, 1783

Literature data. Caucasus: Winkler (1927).

[Hyperaspis caucasica Crotch, 1874]

Literature data. Caucasus: Heyden et al. (1891) (as Oxynychus erythrocephalus caucasicus Crotch).

[Hyperaspis erythrocephala (Fabricius, 1787)]

Coccinella erythrocephala Fabricius, 1787

Literature data. Caucasus: Heyden et al. (1906) (as Oxynychus erythrocephalus a. Guillardi Muls.); Winkler (1927) (as Oxynychus erythrocephalus F.).

Hyperaspis femorata (Motschulsky, 1837)

Coccinella femorata Motschulsky, 1837

Hyperaspis desertorum v. collaris Fleischer, 1900 (synonymized by Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1971))

Hyperaspis inaudax Mulsant, 1853 (synonymized by Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1971))

Literature data. Armenia: Weise (1885) (as H. reppensis v. femorata Motsch.); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1971, 1983); Kovář (2007). Araks valley: Radde (1899) (as H. reppensis var. femorata Mot.); Fleischer (1900) (as H. desertorum v. collaris); Heyden et al. (1906) (as Hyperaspis desertorum a. collaris Fleisch.). Caucasus: Victor (1837); Mulsant (1850); Mulsant (1853) (as H. inaudax); Heyden et al. (1891, 1906) (as H. reppensis v. femorata Motsch. and H. reppensis inaudax Muls.).

Hyperaspis histeroides (Faldermann, 1837)

Scymnus histeroides Faldermann, 1837

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1971, 1983); Kovář (2007). Transcaucasia: Faldermann (1837) (as Scymnus histeroides).

[Hyperaspis polita Weise, 1885]

Literature data. Caucasus: Heyden et al. (1906) (as H. transversoguttata v. 10-guttata Fleischer); Winkler (1927) (as H. transversoguttata a. 10 guttata Fleisch.); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1971).

Hyperaspis transversoguttata Weise, 1878

Literature data: Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1971) (Meghri region); Kovář (2007). Lower Araks: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983). Caucasus: Weise (1879); Heyden et al. (1891, 1906).

Tribe Diomini Gordon, 1999

Diomus rubidus (Motschulsky, 1837)

Scymnus rubidus Motschulsky, 1837

Literature data. Armenia: Kovář (2007). Eastern Caucasus: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983). Caucasus: Heyden et al. (1891, 1906); Winkler (1927).

Tribe Chilocorini Mulsant, 1846

Chilocorus bipustulatus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Coccinella bipustulata Linnaeus, 1758

Literature data. Armenia: Schneider and Leder (1879) (Echmiadzin); Radde (1899) (Echmiadzin); Jacobson (1915) (Yerevan); Kovář (2007). Caucasus: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983).

[Chilocorus renipustulatus (Scriba, 1791)]

Coccinella renipustulata Scriba, 1791

Literature data. Transcaucasia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983).

Exochomus octosignatus (Gebler, 1830)

Coccinella octosignata Gebler, 1830

Literature data. Armenia: Weise (1885); Jacobson (1915) (Yerevan); Tobias (1975) (Yerevan, as a host of D. coccinellae); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983); Kovář (1995, 2007). Araks valley: Radde (1899). Caucasus: Heyden et al. (1906) (as Brumus 8-signatus a. conjunctus Fleisch.).

Exochomus quadriguttatus Fleischer, 1900

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983) (as E. quadripustulatus ssp. quadriguttatus); Kovář (1995, 2007). Araks valley: Fleischer (1900) (as E. 4-pustulatus v. 4-guttatus).

Exochomus quadripustulatus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Coccinella quadripustulata Linnaeus, 1758

Literature data. Armenia: Jacobson (1915) (Yerevan); Kovář (1995, 2007). Transcaucasia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983). Caucasus: Weise (1885) (as Exochomus quadripustulatus v. ibericus Motsch.); Heyden et al. (1891, 1906) (as Exochomus quadripustulatus v. ibericus Motsch.).

Exochomus undulatus Weise, 1878

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983). Caucasus: Weise (1879, 1885); Heyden et al. (1891, 1906); Winkler (1927) (as Anexochomus undulatus Ws.).

Parexochomus melanocephalus (Zubkov, 1833)

Coccinella melanocephala Zubkov, 1833

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983); Kovář (2007). Caucasus: Heyden et al. (1891).

Parexochomus nigripennis (Erichson, 1843)

Chilocorus nigripennis Erichson, 1843

Literature data. Armenia: Jacobson (1915) (as Exochomus flavipes subsp. nigripennis Er.) (Yerevan); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983). Araks valley: Radde (1899) (as Exochomus flavipes var. nigripennis Er.).

Parexochomus nigromaculatus (Goeze, 1777)

Coccinella nigromaculata Goeze, 1777

Exochomus collaris Küster, 1849

Literature data. Armenia: Schneider and Leder (1879) (Echmiadzin, Yerevan, Tarstschai); Radde (1899) (as Exochomus flavipes Thnb.) (Yerevan, Echmiadzin); Jacobson 1915) (as Exochomus flavipes Thunb.) (Yerevan); Kovář (2007). Caucasus: Heyden et al. (1891, 1906) (as Exochomus flavipes v. collaris Küst.); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983).

Parexochomus pubescens (Küster, 1848)

Exochomus pubescens Küster, 1848

Literature data. Armenia: Jacobson (1915) (Yerevan). Araks valley: Radde (1899); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983).

Tribe Sticholotidini Weise, 1901

Coelopterus armeniacus Weise, 1894

Literature data. Armenia: Jacobson (1915) (Yerevan); Winkler (1927) (Yerevan); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983) (as a synonym of C. salinus Mulsant, 1853); Kovář (2007). Araks valley: Weise (1894); Heyden et al. (1906).

Pharoscymnus armenus Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1970

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1970b, 1983); Kovář (2007).

Remarks. Described based on specimens from the Kapan region (Syunik province) (holotype) and Yeghegnadzor region (Vayots Dzor province) (paratype) in Armenia.

Tribe Coccidulini Mulsant, 1846

Coccidula lithophiloides Reitter, 1890

Literature data. Armenia: Jacobson (1915) (Yerevan); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983) (Araks valley from Yerevan to Meghri); Kovář (2007); Szawaryn et al. (2021) (Echmiadzin, Yerevan). Araks: Heyden et al. (1891, 1906); Winkler (1927).

Coccidula rufa (Herbst, 1783)

Dermestes rufus Herbst, 1783

Coccidula unicolor Reitter, 1890

Literature data. Armenia: Jacobson (1915) (as C. unicolor Rt.) (Yerevan). Araks: Heyden et al. (1891) (as C. rufa v. unicolor Reitt.). Caucasus: Reitter (1890); Winkler (1927) (as C. unicolor Rtt.).

Coccidula scutellata (Herbst, 1783)

Chrysomela scutellata Herbst, 1783

Literature data. Armenia: Szawaryn et al. (2021) (Yerevan).

Tribe Tetrabrachini Kapur, 1948

Tetrabrachys araxis (Reitter, 1897)

Lithophilus araxis Reitter, 1897

Literature data. Armenia: Jacobson (1915) (Yerevan); Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983) (Hrazdan valley, Mt. Aragats slopes, lake Sevan shores); Kovář (2007). Araks valley: Radde (1899); Heyden et al. (1906); Winkler (1927).

Tetrabrachys bipustulatus (Barovskij, 1909)

Lithophilus bipustulatus Barovskij, 1909

Literature data. Armenia: Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1974, 1983) (surroundings of Yerevan); Kovář (2007).

Remarks. According to Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1974), a distinct subspecies Lithophilus (=Tetrabrachys) bipustulatus armeniacus occurs in Armenia.

[Tetrabrachys caucasicus (Weise, 1878)]

Lithophilus caucasicus Weise, 1878

Literature data. Caucasus: Heyden et al. (1906); Winkler (1927).

Tetrabrachys connatus (Creutzer, 1796)

Tritoma connata Creutzer, 1796

Literature data. Armenia: Radde (1899) (Darachichag (=Tsaghkadzor)); Jacobson (1915) (Yerevan).

Remark. In Jacobson’s (1915) list of the distribution records of T. connatus, Yerevan is preceded by a question mark.

Tetrabrachys major (Crotch, 1874)

Lithophilus major Crotch, 1874

Literature data. Armenia: Jacobson (1915) (Yerevan). Araks valley: Heyden et al. (1906).

[Tetrabrachys weisei (Reitter, 1880)]

Lithophilus weisei Reitter, 1880

Caucasus literature data. Heyden et al. (1906); Winkler (1927).

Comparison of Coccinellidae faunas of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia

The checklist presented above contains 84 species that have been reported from Armenia and 14 additional species with imprecise locations (Transcaucasia, Araks valley, the Caucasus) indicating that they may or may not include Armenia. Four species reported from Armenia or adjacent areas by Jacobson (1915) and two reported by Kovář (2007) are not included, listed in Table 1 with the reasons for their exclusion.

Table 1.
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Species reported from Armenia or adjacent regions, but not included in the present checklist.

Species Justification for exclusion
Oenopia doublieri (Mulsant, 1846) Jacobson (1915) reported a doubtful (with a question mark) record of O. doublieri from Yerevan, citing Schneider and Leder (1879) as a source of this information. Indeed, these authors reported O. doublieri, however, not from the Yerevan area, but from the North Caucasus (Karasu village in Kabardino-Balkaria (Russia)).
Scymniscus armeniacus (Canepari, 1979) Kovář (2007) reported this species as occurring in Armenia, probably due to its specific epithet. However, Canepari (1979) described S. armeniacus (as Nephus (Sidis) armeniacus) based on a single male specimen collected in Elisabetspol (today’s Ganja in Azerbaijan). Canepari derived the name armeniacus from the ancient region of Armenia that covered much more extensive area than present-day Armenia.
Scymnus (Scymnus) rufipes (Fabricius, 1798) Jacobson (1915) reported this species from Transcaucasia. Its identity is uncertain given some of its synonyms listed by Jacobson (S. corpulentus Muls., S. suffrianioides J. Sahlb.). According to Kovář (2007), S. corpulentus is considered a synonym of S. apetzi Mulsant and S. suffrianioides is a valid species different from S. rufipes.
Hyperaspis desertorum Weise, 1885 Jacobson (1915) reported H. desertorum from Yerevan, which may refer either to this species or, more likely, to H. femorata Motschulsky, as indicated by one of the synonyms mentioned (H. desertorum ab. collaris Fleisch.).
Hyperaspis reppensis (Herbst, 1783) Jacobson’s (1915) report of H. reppensis from Yerevan cannot be assigned to this or other related species due to the long list of synonyms given, which are currently recognized as several species (e.g., H. stigma A. Ol., H. pseudopustulata Muls., H. hoffmannseggi Grav., H. histeroides Fald., H. illecebrosa Chevr., H. femorata Motsch., H. quadrimaculata Redt.).
Pharoscymnus koenigi Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1970 According to Kovář’s (2007) catalogue, P. koenigi occurs in both the Asiatic part of Turkey and Armenia. However, the holotype and three paratypes of P. koenigi, all collected in Oltu (eastern Turkey) (Iablokoff-Khnzorian 1970c), are probably the only known specimens of this species.

A comparison of the reported ladybird fauna of Armenia with that of other Transcaucasian states (Azerbaijan and Georgia) is shown in Table 2. The total number of species for all the Transcaucasian countries is 116, with 84, 92, and 90 species reported from Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, respectively. Thus, the recognized ladybird fauna of Armenia is somewhat poorer than that of Azerbaijan and Georgia. However, it should be borne in mind that Armenia occupies a noticeably smaller area than the other two states: Georgia is more than twice and Azerbaijan almost three times the size of Armenia.

Approximately 12% of ladybird species reported from Transcaucasia (14 of 116 species) can be considered endemic or near-endemic to the Caucasus ecoregion (Table 3). Ten of them have been reported from Armenia (11.9% of the 84 species reported), four from Azerbaijan (4.3% of the 92 species reported), and six from Georgia (6.7% of the 90 species reported).

Another group of special interest are ladybird species non-native to the region. To our knowledge, eight such species have been reported from Transcaucasia, but the occurrence of two of them there seems unlikely, so they are not included in the list of the Transcaucasian Coccinellidae in Table 2. One of these, Chilocorus similis (Rossi, 1790), was reported by Schneider and Leder (1879) from Lailashi, Georgia, most probably as a result of a misidentification of C. renipustulatus (Scriba, 1791). The second species, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata (Fabricius, 1775), a herbivorous ladybird widely distributed in the eastern part of the Palaearctic and in the Oriental and Australian regions (Kovář 2007), was reported from Azerbaijan in an unpublished thesis cited by Snegovaya and Zare Khormizi (2022). This report likely pertains to a different species of Epilachnini. The presence in the region of the remaining six species is likely, given that each of them has been introduced in the Caucasus in the past (Table 4). All six species have been reported from Georgia, two (Harmonia axyridis and Rhyzobius lophanthae) from Azerbaijan, and only one (H. axyridis) from Armenia.

To conclude, the recognized ladybird fauna of Armenia, although slightly less abundant in species than those of Azerbaijan and Georgia, appears to be diverse, with a high proportion of endemic species. On the other hand, only one alien ladybird species, the harlequin ladybird (H. axyridis), has so far been reported from this country. The field survey revealed that this highly invasive species has become common and widespread in many parts of Armenia. The survey also shows the presence in Armenia of two ladybird species, Anatis ocellata and Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata, which had not previously been reported from the region. Further field research and examination of existing insect collections would certainly increase the number of Armenian ladybird species.

Table 2.
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Coccinellidae reported from the Transcaucasian countries. The Armenian data are taken from the present checklist, while those for Azerbaijan and Georgia are primarily based on recent checklists by Snegovaya and Zare Khormizi (2022) and Migeon and Arabuli (2022), respectively. A few reports from other sources are marked and footnoted. [A] after the species name indicates a species alien to the region, [E] indicates presumed endemic or nearly endemic species. Asterisks (*) denote new country records. The footnotes are explained at the end of the table.

Species Armenia Azerbaijan Georgia
Microweiseinae
Serangiini
Serangium montazerii Fürsch, 1995 [A] +
Coccinellinae
Stethorini
Stethorus gilvifrons (Mulsant, 1850) + + +
Stethorus pusillus (Herbst, 1797) + + +
Coccinellini
Adalia bipunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) + + +
Adalia decempunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) + + +
Anatis ocellata (Linnaeus, 1758)* + + +
Anisosticta caucasica (Fleischer, 1900) [E] +
Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) + + +
Aphidecta obliterata (Linnaeus, 1758) + + +
Bulaea lichatschovii (Hummel, 1827) + + +
Calvia decemguttata (Linnaeus, 1767) + + +
Calvia quatuordecimguttata (Linnaeus, 1758) + + +
Calvia quindecimguttata (Fabricius, 1777) + +
Ceratomegilla apicalis (Weise, 1879) + + +
Ceratomegilla notata (Laicharting, 1781) + + +
Ceratomegilla schelkovnikovi (Dobzhansky, 1927) [E] + +1
Ceratomegilla schneideri (Weise, 1878) [E] + + +
Ceratomegilla undecimnotata (Schneider, 1792) + + +
Coccinella alpigrada (Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1957) [E] +
Coccinella hieroglyphica Linnaeus, 1758 + +
Coccinella magnifica Redtenbacher, 1843 + +2 +
Coccinella quinquepunctata Linnaeus, 1758 + + +
Coccinella saucerottii Mulsant, 1850 +
Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus, 1758 + + +
Coccinella undecimpunctata Linnaeus, 1758 + +
Coccinula quatuordecimpustulata (Linnaeus, 1758) + + +
Coccinula sinuatomarginata (Faldermann, 1837) + + +
Halyzia sedecimguttata (Linnaeus, 1758) + + +
Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) [A] + + +
Harmonia conformis (Boisduval, 1835) [A] +
Harmonia quadripunctata (Pontoppidan, 1763) + +
Hippodamia septemmaculata (DeGeer, 1775) +
Hippodamia tredecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) + + +
Hippodamia variegata (Goeze, 1777) + + +
Myrrha octodecimguttata (Linnaeus, 1758) + + +
Myzia oblongoguttata (Linnaeus, 1758) + + +
Oenopia bissexnotata (Mulsant, 1850) +
Oenopia conglobata (Linnaeus, 1758) + + +
Oenopia impustulata (Linnaeus, 1758) + + +
Oenopia lyncea agnatha (Rosenhauer, 1808) + + +
Oenopia oncina (Olivier, 1808) + + +
Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) + + +
Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) + + +
Sospita vigintiguttata (Linnaeus, 1758) +
Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1761)* + + +
Vibidia duodecimguttata (Poda von Neuhaus, 1761) + + +
Epilachnini
Chnootriba elaterii (Rossi, 1794) + +
Cynegetis impunctata (Linnaeus, 1767) +
Henosepilachna argus (Geoffroy, 1785) + + +
Subcoccinella vigintiquatuorpunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) + + +
Noviini
Novius cardinalis (Mulsant, 1850) [A] +
Scymnini
Clitostethus arcuatus (Rossi, 1794) + + +
Nephus (Bipunctatus) bipunctatus (Kugelann, 1794) + +
Nephus (Geminosipho) reunioni (Fürsch, 1974) [A] + +3
Nephus (Nephus) ludyi (Weise, 1879) +
Nephus (Nephus) quadrimaculatus (Herbst, 1783) + + +
Nephus (Nephus) redtenbacheri (Mulsant, 1846) + +
Nephus (Sidis) caucasicus (Weise, 1929) [E] +
Scymniscus armeniacus (Canepari, 1979) [E] +4
Scymniscus biflammulatus (Motschulsky, 1837) + + +
Scymniscus biguttatus (Mulsant, 1850) + + +
Scymnus (Mimopullus) pharaonis Motschulsky, 1851 +
Scymnus (Neopullus) haemorrhoidalis Herbst, 1797 + + +
Scymnus (Neopullus) limbatus Stephens, 1832 + + +
Scymnus (Neopullus) testaceus Motschulsky, 1837 + + +5
Scymnus (Pullus) argutus Mulsant, 1850 + + +
Scymnus (Pullus) auritus Thunberg, 1795 + +
Scymnus (Pullus) ferrugatus (Moll, 1785) +
Scymnus (Pullus) fraxini Mulsant, 1850 + + +
Scymnus (Pullus) subvillosus (Goeze, 1777) + + +
Scymnus (Pullus) suturalis Thunberg, 1795 + + +5
Scymnus (Scymnus) apetzi Mulsant, 1846 + + +
Scymnus (Scymnus) femoralis (Gyllenhal, 1827) +
Scymnus (Scymnus) flavicollis Redtenbacher, 1843 +
Scymnus (Scymnus) frontalis (Fabricius, 1787) + + +
Scymnus (Scymnus) inderihensis Mulsant, 1850 +
Scymnus (Scymnus) interruptus (Goeze, 1777) + + +
Scymnus (Scymnus) magnomaculatus Fürsch, 1958 + + +
Scymnus (Scymnus) marginalis (Rossi, 1794) +
Scymnus (Scymnus) nigrinus Kugelann, 1794 + +
Scymnus (Scymnus) pallipes Mulsant, 1850 +
Scymnus (Scymnus) rubromaculatus (Goeze, 1777) + + +
Scymnus (Scymnus) rufipes (Fabricius, 1798) +
Platynaspini
Platynaspis luteorubra (Goeze, 1777) + + +
Hyperaspidini
Hyperaspis campestris (Herbst, 1783) +
Hyperaspis caucasica Crotch, 1874 [E] +6
Hyperaspis erythrocephala (Fabricius, 1787) + +
Hyperaspis femorata (Motschulsky, 1837) + + +
Hyperaspis histeroides (Faldermann, 1837) + +
Hyperaspis reppensis (Herbst, 1783) + +
Hyperaspis transversoguttata Weise, 1878 + + +
Diomini
Diomus rubidus (Motschulsky, 1837) + + +
Chilocorini
Chilocorus bipustulatus (Linnaeus, 1758) + + +
Chilocorus renipustulatus (Scriba, 1791) + +
Exochomus octosignatus (Gebler, 1830) + + +
Exochomus quadriguttatus Fleischer, 1900 [E] + +7
Exochomus quadripustulatus (Linnaeus, 1758) + + +
Exochomus undulatus Weise, 1878 + + +
Parexochomus melanocephalus (Zubkov, 1833) + + +8
Parexochomus nigripennis (Erichson, 1843) +
Parexochomus nigromaculatus (Goeze, 1777) + + +
Parexochomus pubescens (Küster, 1848) + +
Sticholotidini
Coelopterus armeniacus Weise, 1894 [E] +
Pharoscymnus armenus Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1970 [E] + +
Pharoscymnus smirnovi Dobzhansky, 1927 + +
Coccidulini
Coccidula lithophiloides Reitter, 1890 [E] + +
Coccidula rufa (Herbst, 1783) + + +
Coccidula scutellata (Herbst, 1783) + + +
Rhyzobius lophanthae (Blaisdell, 1892) [A] + +
Tetrabrachini
Tetrabrachys araxis (Reitter, 1897) [E] + +
Tetrabrachys bipustulatus (Barovskij, 1909) +
Tetrabrachys caucasicus (Weise, 1878) [E] +
Tetrabrachys coloratus Fürsch, 1960 +
Tetrabrachys connatus (Creutzer, 1796) + + +
Tetrabrachys major (Crotch, 1874) +
Tetrabrachys weisei (Reitter, 1880) [E] +
No. species: 116 84 92 90

1 Reported by Dobzhansky (1927) from Borjomi and Bakuriani in Georgia and Mamison Pass on the Georgian-Russian border and by Kovář (2007) generally from Georgia. 2 Reported by Schneider and Leder (1879) from Baku district, Azerbaijan. 3 Reported from Georgia by Kovář (2007). 4 Reported by Canepari (1979) from Elisabetspol (now Ganja), Azerbaijan. 5 From Georgia reported by Schneider and Leder (1879) and Merkviladze and Kvavadze (2002). 6 Reported from Nukha (now Shaki), Azerbaijan by Motschulsky (Victor 1837) (as Coccinella 6 pustulata Victor). Kovář’s (2007) report from Georgia was not included, as it probably follows Motschulsky’s (Victor 1837) description of the site as ‘Noucha en Géorgie’. 7 Reported by Kovář (1995) from Gagra in Abkhazia (formally part of Georgia) and by Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983) and Merkviladze and Kvavadze (2002) (as E. quadripustulatus ssp. quadriguttatus Fleisch, 1900) from several regions of Georgia. 8 Reported by Merkviladze and Kvavadze (2002) from several regions in Georgia.
Table 3.
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Coccinellidae species with a known range restricted to or only slightly exceeding the Caucasus ecoregion.

Species Remarks on distribution and nomenclature
Anisosticta caucasica (Fleischer, 1900) For a long time, this ladybird was known only from a single type specimen that, according to Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1982), was collected by Fleischer in the Armenian part of the Araks valley. Further specimens were reported by Fürsch (1977) from Dizin in northern Iran.
Ceratomegilla schelkovnikovi (Dobzhansky, 1927) It seems that the specimens collected by Dobzhansky (1927) in several locations in Armenia, Georgia, and the Russian part of the Caucasus (upper course of the Belaya River) are the only known specimens of this species.
Ceratomegilla schneideri (Weise, 1878) This species is probably a Caucasian endemic. Apart from Armenia, Schneider and Leder (1879) reported it from Georgia and Azerbaijan and Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983) added the Russian territories of Kabardino-Balkaria, Kuban region and Ossetia in the North Caucasus. Bieńkowski (2018: fig. 11C) presented a photograph of a specimen from the Republic of Adygea (NW of the North Caucasus, Russia).
Coccinella alpigrada (Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1957) Khnzorian (1957) reported several Armenian sites for C. alpigrada. For a long time, these were the only known sites of this species until Kovář (2005) reported it from the Erzurum Province of Turkey (Armenian Upland).
Nephus caucasicus (Weise, 1929) This species was described (as Scymnus plagiatus Weise in Schneider & Leder, 1879) based on specimens collected near Karasu village (Kabardino-Balkaria, the North Caucasus, Russia) and Yerevan (Armenia). More recently, it was also reported from Tehran Province in northern Iran (Jafari et al. 2013).
Scymniscus armeniacus (Canepari, 1979) It seems that the type specimen from Ganja in Azerbaijan (Canepari 1979) is the only known specimen of this species.
Hyperaspis caucasica Crotch, 1874 Motschulsky (Victor 1837) found this species in the environs of present-day Shaka in Azerbaijan and described it as Coccinella 6 pustulata. Subsequently, due to homonymy, Crotch (1874) replaced this name with H. caucasica. Kovář (2007) considered Hyperaspis assimilis Zaslavskij, 1966 from Tajikistan as a synonym of H. caucasica, while Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983) treated both H. caucasica and H. assimilis as synonyms of H. guttulata Fairmaire, 1870, a species reported from the western Mediterranean region, Tajikistan, and Mongolia (Kovář 2007). A comparative examination of H. caucasica, H. assimilis, and H. guttulata would need to be carried out to establish their identities.
Exochomus quadriguttatus Fleischer, 1900 Exochomus quadriguttatus appears to be endemic to the Caucasus ecoregion or its range extends slightly beyond this area. It was reported from the western North Caucasus, western Georgia, Armenia, and north-eastern Anatolia (Iablokoff-Khnzorian 1983; Kovář 1995; Merkviladze and Kvavadze 2002).
Coelopterus armeniacus Weise, 1894 Coelopterus armeniacus was described based on two specimens collected in the Araks valley. Later authors consistently reported it from Armenia but, surprisingly, Kovář (2007) also mentioned Israel.
Pharoscymnus armenus Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1970 It is known from Armenia and eastern Georgia (Iablokoff-Khnzorian 1970b, 1983).
Coccidula lithophiloides Reitter, 1890 Coccidula lithophiloides was described from Ordubad (Azerbaijan exclave of Nakhchivan). According to Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983), it is common in Armenia along the Araks valley. It was also reported from several provinces of Iran (Kermanshah, Lorestan, Isfahan, and Fars; Biranvand et al. 2024), where it was described by Duverger (1983) as Lithophilus naviauxi.
Tetrabrachys araxis (Reitter, 1897) Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983) stated that T. araxis was described from Armenia, but Reitter’s (1897) description was based on specimens collected in the Araks valley near Ordubad, i.e., in the Azerbaijan exclave of Nakhchivan. Nonetheless, the former author mentioned several other locations of this species within the current borders of Armenia. Tetrabrachys anatolicus (Pic, 1901), considered a synonym of T. araxis both by Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1983) and Kovář (2007), was described from Konya in southern Turkey, more than 1,000 km W-WS of the Transcaucasian locations. The identity of T. anatolicus needs to be examined.
Tetrabrachys caucasicus (Weise, 1878) Description of this species was based on a single specimen collected in Borjomi in Georgia (Schneider and Leder 1879). Merkviladze and Kvavadze (2002) reported it also from the region of Tbilisi, and Kovář (2007) mentioned it generally from the Asiatic part of Turkey.
Tetrabrachys weisei (Reitter, 1880) Reitter (1880) mentioned in general that the specimen he used to describe T. weisei was collected by Leder in the Caucasus. Merkviladze and Kvavadze (2002) reported it from the Tbilisi district of Georgia, and Iablokoff-Khnzorian (1974, 1983) also from Crimea.
Table 4.
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Non-native Coccinellidae reported from Transcaucasia.

Species Information on introductions in the region
Serangium montazerii Fürsch, 1995 Widely released in the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus after 1973 (as S. parcesetosum (Sicard, 1929)) (Booth and Polaszek 1996; Bieńkowski and Orlova-Bienkowskaja 2020). Its presence in western Georgia was confirmed by Migeon and Arabuli (2022).
Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) Released after 1927 in Georgia and then at the Black Sea coast of Russia (Bieńkowski and Orlova-Bienkowskaja 2020). Its presence in eastern Georgia was confirmed by Merkviladze and Kvavadze (2002). The European invasive population has been spreading in the Caucasus since ~ 2012 (Belyakova and Reznik 2013; Ukrainsky 2013).
Harmonia conformis (Boisduval, 1835) Released in Georgia after 1958 (Bieńkowski and Orlova-Bienkowskaja 2020). Its presence in western Georgia was confirmed by Merkviladze and Kvavadze (2002).
Novius cardinalis (Mulsant, 1850) Released in the Caucasus after 1931 (Bieńkowski and Orlova-Bienkowskaja 2020). Its presence in western Georgia was confirmed by Merkviladze and Kvavadze (2002).
Nephus reunioni (Fürsch, 1974) Released in Georgia before 1987 (Bieńkowski and Orlova-Bienkowskaja 2020).
Rhyzobius lophanthae (Blaisdell, 1892) Released in the Caucasus after 1947 (Bieńkowski and Orlova-Bienkowskaja 2020). Its presence in western Georgia was confirmed by Merkviladze and Kvavadze (2002).

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Mark Kalashian (Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology, National Academy of Sciences, Yerevan) for sharing his unpublished records of Harmonia axyridis in Armenia.

Additional information

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Ethical statement

No ethical statement was reported.

Funding

The work was supported by the Science Committee of RA, in the frames of the research project 21AG-1F033.

Author contributions

Conceptualization: PC, SG. Data curation: SG, PC. Investigation: KT, PC, AG, MA, SG, JR. Supervision: PC. Writing - original draft: SG, PC. Writing - review and editing: PC, KT, AG, JR, MA, SG.

Author ORCIDs

Shoghik Ghazaryan https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9071-6545

Marine Arakelyan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6334-5714

Astghik Ghazaryan https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2840-0019

Jerzy Romanowski https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1050-6403

Krzysztof Turlejski https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6708-7815

Piotr Ceryngier https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1085-9751

Data availability

All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text.

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