Novius minimus (Kapur)

Poorani, J., 2023, A review of the tribe Noviini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) of the Indian subcontinent, Zootaxa 5311 (1), pp. 1-47 : 24-26

Novius minimus (Kapur)

( Fig. 18a, b )

Rodolia minima Kapur, 1949: 537 .- Poorani 2002: 317.

Novius minimus: Pang et al. 2020: 19 .

Diagnosis. Length: 2.35 mm; width: 2.00 mm. Form ( Fig. 18a, b ) broadly rounded, moderately convex. Externally similar to N. amabilis , but much smaller in size. Dorsal side and ventral side reddish testaceous to carmine red, apical one-third and lateral borders of elytra darker. Elytra finely punctate. Genitalia illustrated by Kapur (1949).

Material examined. Holotype, “ Type (red bordered circular label)/S. India, Ooty, 5.v.1947, Plant Protection Adviser/Feeding on Icerya purchasi /Imp. Inst. Ent. Coll. No. 10688/ Rodolia minima sp. n. ( TYPE), A.P. Kapur det. 1947/Pres. By Imp. Inst. Ent. B.M. 1947-405”, specimen on minuten pin on rectangular card ( BMNH); 2 paratypes with same data and yellow bordered circular labels; one rectangular card with same labels and a label “broken parts from Rodolia minima Kapur, A.P. Kapur det. 1947 (only legs are present) ( BMNH)

Distribution. India (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu).

Prey/associated habitat. Icerya purchasi Maskell.

Notes. As per Kapur’s (1949) original description, it appears to be very small (<2.50 mm long) and the male genitalia also are unique and not likely to be confused with any other Indian species. It could not be collected from the type locality despite repeated attempts.

Figures

FIGURE 18. a, b. Novius minimus (Kapur), holotype (BMNH); c. Novius netara (Kapur), holotype (BMNH); d. Novius pumilus (Weise), paratype (BMNH).