Noviini
Guides
Novius
Novius is a genus of ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae) and the sole member of the tribe Noviini. The genus contains over 70 species, most formerly placed in the genera Rodolia and Anovia, which are now considered junior synonyms. Species of Novius are specialist predators of scale insects, particularly cotton cushion scales in the genus Icerya, and have been widely used in classical biological control programs. The best-known species, Novius cardinalis (the vedalia beetle), was introduced from Australia to California in the 1880s and achieved historic success in controlling Icerya purchasi.