Orius (Orius) niger (Wolff, 1811)

Salda niger Wolff,1811:167 . SYNTYPES: sex unknown, Germany, Bavaria (lost – see PÉRICART 1996: 126).

Orius niger: SCHUMACHER (1922): 338 (new combination).

Orius (Orius) niger aegyptiacus Wagner, 1952: 33. HOLOTYPE:, Egypt, Heliopolis (MZHF). Synonymized by PÉRICART (1971: 103).

Material examined. INDIA: KARNATAKA: Tumkur, Devarayanadurga, viii.2016, 2 1 ♀ (TKPM); Kanakapura, x.2016, 3 6 ♀♀ (NBAIR) .

Distribution in India. Himachal Pradesh (GHAURI 1972a); Karnataka (BALLAL & YAMADA 2016); Tamil Nadu: Madras [= Chennai], Tambaram (MURALLEDHARAN 1977b, as O. n. aegyptiacus).

General distribution. Widespread in Europe; North Africa, Palaearctic Asia, Yemen, Pakistan, Nepal (GHAURI 1972a, b, PÉRICART 1996, GHAHARI et al. 2009, AUKEMA et al. 2013).

Biology. The species has been seen on jasmine plants, Tecoma stans, and Butea monosperma, where it is associated with thrips (DEVI & GUPTA 2010, BALLAL & YAMADA 2016). In the Palearctic Region, this species is well known as a predator of aphids, thrips, and eggs of Lepidoptera, pentatomids, and mites (CARAYON & STEFFAN 1959, PÉRICART 1972).