Novius virginalis

(Wickham)

Native Anovia

Novius virginalis is a small lady beetle in the Coccinellidae, measuring 2.43–3.05 mm in length. The was formerly classified under the Anovia, and is distinguished by its red body with dark markings on the , pronotum, and . It occurs in the southwestern United States.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Novius virginalis: /ˈno.vius vɪr.dʒɪˈnæ.lɪs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from other Novius and related coccinellids by the combination of small size (under 3.1 mm), red body ground color with restricted dark markings, and the specific pattern of red spots on the ( and subhumeral). The dark pronotal angles and separate it from uniformly red . Formerly placed in Anovia, which has been synonymized with Novius.

Appearance

are small, measuring 2.43–3.05 mm in length. The body is predominantly red. The angle of the pronotum and the are (dark brown to black). The bear a red spot and a subhumeral red area, with the remaining elytral surface dark.

Distribution

Recorded from the southwestern United States: Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. GBIF records indicate presence in North America and Middle America, though specific Middle American localities are not detailed in available sources.

Similar Taxa

  • Other Novius speciesSimilar small size and coloration; distinguished by specific elytral spot pattern and dark pronotal markings
  • Formerly Anovia speciesN. virginalis was originally described in Anovia; taxonomic revision moved it to Novius

More Details

Taxonomic history

Novius virginalis was originally described in the Anovia. Subsequent taxonomic revision transferred the to Novius as part of a broader reclassification of coccinellid genera.

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Sources and further reading