Novius breviusculus (Weise)

Poorani, J., 2023, A review of the tribe Noviini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) of the Indian subcontinent, Zootaxa 5311 (1), pp. 1-47 : 11

Novius breviusculus (Weise)

( Figs 7 , 8 )

Rodolia breviuscula Weise, 1892: 26 .- Korschefsky 1931: 99.- Kapur 1949: 536.

Novius breviusculus: Pang et al. 2020: 18 .

Diagnosis. Length: 3.25–4.00 mm. Form oval, dorsum strongly convex and pubescent ( Fig. 7a ). Uniformly reddish or orange-testaceous on both sides, punctation on elytra very fine, close and occasionally almost obsolete. Ventral side reddish-testaceous, metaventrite darker. Abdominal postcoxal line ( Fig. 7b ) complete, shallowly semicircular. Last abdominal ventrite broadly emarginate in female ( Fig. 7c ), narrowly and more deeply emarginate in male ( Fig. 7b ). Can be reliably differentiated from the more commonly collected R. amabilis only by the male genitalia ( Fig. 7d–h ), particularly the shape of the penis guide ( Fig. 7e, f ) and the parameres that are setose only in the apical one–third. Spermatheca ( Fig. 7i ) as illustrated, distally enlarged and bulbous.

Material examined. INDIA: Karnataka, Coffee Res. Stn, 17.i.1991 /no. 32, pred. of coccid on casuarina, IIE 21624/male genitalia and abdomen in glass vial/ Rodolia breviuscula Ws. Det. R.G. Booth 1991 /Pres. By Int. Inst. Ent. B.M. 1991-1 ( BMNH); 2 females on same card with abdomen removed and glued to the same card point ( BMNH); S. India/Shevaroys: Yercaud, 21 Apr–1 May 1913, 4500ft, Y.R. Coll. Pred. on a Monophlebus on Crepthsina/ Rodolia breviuscula Weise, A.P. Kapur det. 1947/19/Pres. By Com. Inst. Ent. B.M. 1955-49, 1 ex ( BMNH); Ceylon: Peradeniya, Ceylon, 1-1910/ Rodolia breviuscula Wse. , 2 ex; Ragalla, Ceylong, 10.xi.17/4301/ predatory on Icerya purchasi /Pres. By Imp. Bur. Ent./1919-30, 1 ex; Ceylon, Ragalla, 10.xi.17, J.C. Hutson/Predatory on Icerya purchasi /4301/Pres. By Imp. Bur. Ent., 3 ex.; Peradeniya, Ceylon, Dec. 1918 /Bred from Icerya purchasi / Novius roseipennis, Muls. Det. G.A.K.M. /Pres. By Imp. Bur. Ent./ Rodolia breviuscula Weise, A. P. Kapur det. 1947, 2 ex ( BMNH).

Distribution. Common in south India (Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu); Sri Lanka; Myanmar; Thailand; China; Oriental region; Introduced into Guam and Marshall Islands ( Micronesia).

Prey/associated habitat. Aleurodicus dispersus Russell ; Icerya aegyptiaca (Douglas) , Icerya purchasi Maskell ( Puttarudriah & Channabasavanna 1957) ; Icerya spp. , Monophlebus sp. ; collected on Acalypha sp. , casuarina (label data). Found feeding extensively on Labioproctus polei (Green) infesting Thevetia neriifolia in and around Bangalore ( Puttarudriah & Channabasavanna 1953, 1955).

Seasonal occurrence. Commonly collected during March–August, November–December in South India.

Natural enemy. Homalotylus flaminius (Dalman) .

Notes. Kapur (1949) described it in detail and illustrated the genitalia. It is mentioned as commonly present in South India ( Puttarudriah & Channabasavanna 1953, 1955, 1957) but it is likely that the most common species in peninsular India, N. amabilis , is commonly misidentified as N. breviusculus (see note under N. amabilis about the wrong illustration of spermatheca by Kapur 1949). In extensive field collections from different parts of south India, I came across only N. amabilis and N. fumidus in large numbers and N. breviusculus appears to be rarely collected. Puttarudriah & Channabasavanna (1953, 1955, 1957) provided brief notes on this species and Subramaniam (1955) studied its biology.

Male genitalia of specimens examined from north-eastern India that are close to N. breviusculus ( Fig. 8b–e ) have a narrower penis guide ( Fig. 8c, d ) and the penis apex has small serrations ( Fig. 8e ). Additional material of N. breviusculus is required to clarify its status.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Novius breviusculus (Sri Lanka, BMNH): a. adult, dorsal view; b. abdomen, male; c. terminal ventrites, female; d–h. male genitalia: d. tegmen, lateral view; e, f. tegmen, inner view; g. penis; h. penis capsule; i. spermatheca.

FIGURE 8. Novius sp. nr. breviusculus (Weise) (Assam): a. abdomen, male; b–e. male genitalia: b. tegmen, lateral view; c, d. tegmen, inner view; e. penis.