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.