The introduction of the eleven-spotted ladybird Coccinella undecimpunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) to New Zealand in 1874: a spurious record created by cumulative misreporting

Abstract

Although the introduction of the ladybird Coccinella undecimpunctata L. in 1874 has been widely quoted as the first introduction of an insect to New Zealand for biocontrol purposes, analysis of published and unpublished historical sources reveals no evidence that such an introduction was ever made or attempted. Instead, there is clear evidence that the presently accepted record of its introduction was created by a process of cumulative misreporting by successive authors. There is no justification for continuing to quote the record of an introduction of C. undecimpunctata to New Zealand in 1874.