Novius is a genus of ladybird beetles belonging to the family Coccinellidae, and the sole member of the tribe Noviini. The genus as presently defined contains over 70 species, most of which were formerly placed in the genera Rodolia and Anovia, but after decades of debate, both of these genera are now considered to be junior synonyms of Novius.[1]
| Novius | |
|---|---|
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| Novius cardinalis | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
| Family: | Coccinellidae |
| Subfamily: | Ortaliinae |
| Tribe: | Noviini |
| Genus: | Novius Mulsant, 1846 |
| Synonyms | |
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Novius species have a semispherical body, covered with dense, short hairs. They are reddish-purple, with or without black spots.
Novius species regularly feed on scale insects, aphids and small mites, which makes them candidates as biological control agents. One such species used in biocontrol is Novius cardinalis, introduced worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions, and now effectively cosmopolitan. Other species have been introduced in more restricted areas (e.g., Micronesia), though always for the biological control of pest insects.