Novius sp.

Poorani, J., 2023, A review of the tribe Noviini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) of the Indian subcontinent, Zootaxa 5311 (1), pp. 1-47 : 41-42

Novius sp.

( Fig. 31 )

Diagnosis. This is the only species of Novius of the Indian region which is distinctly elongate in outline ( Fig. 31a ) and the ventral side is mostly dark brown. The spermatheca is also characteristic and diagnostic with a highly convoluted cornu with small tubercles on the surface ( Fig. 31e ). Some Asian species including N. limbatus Motschulsky, 1866 ( Fig. 32a ), N. concolor Lewis, 1879 ( Fig. 32b ), N. fausti ( Weise, 1885) ( Fig. 32c ) and N. rufocinctus ( Lewis, 1896) have an elongate and comparatively narrower body outline and only N. fausti comes close to this species in terms of general appearance but the genitalia of these two species could not be compared.

Brief description. Length: 4.50–5.00 mm; width: 3.50–4.00 mm. Form ( Fig. 31a ) elongate oval, dorsum moderately convex and pubescent. Dorsal side dull yellowish yellow, ventral side almost fully dark brownish except head, antenna, mouthparts and epipleura yellowish, legs dark brown with only tarsi slightly paler. Head with interocular distance 2.5x as wide as an eye. Abdominal postcoxal line ( Fig. 31b, c ) complete, shallowly semicircular. Abdominal ventrite 6 narrowed towards posterior, posterior margin truncate ( Fig. 31b, d ). Female genitalia with spermatheca ( Fig. 31e ) having a convoluted, twisted cornu having minute tubercles on the surface. One specimen with dorsal coloration more orange yellowish, ventral side less dark, abdominal ventrites 1–3 dark brown medially and laterally yellowish sides.

Material examined. Two females: “Doherty/ India Or Manipur /Fry Coll. 1905-100” ( BMNH); “63138/Doherty/ India Or Manipur/ Rodolia fumida Muls. A. P. Kapur det. 1947” ( BMNH) .

Notes. This is a very distinctive species with an elongate body outline and the ventral side is dull to dark brown and the spermatheca is also distinctive. It is unique but at present sufficient literature is not available to identify it to species. Pang et al. (2020) erroneously listed N. concolor as an African species distributed in “Kashitu, N.W. Rhodesia ”.

Figures

FIGURE 31. Novius sp. (North-eastern India, BMNH): a. adult, dorsal view; b. abdomen, female; c. abdominal postcoxal line; d. terminal ventrites, female; e. spermatheca.

FIGURE 32. Novius spp. (BMNH): a. Novius limbatus Motschulsky, holotype; b. Novius concolor Lewis, non-type; c. Novius fausti (Weise), cotype.