Novius cardinalis (vedalia ladybird)
Basis for Tasmanian occurrence
Semmens, T.D., McQuillan, P.B. & Hayhurst, G. (1992). Catalogue of the Insects of Tasmania. Government of Tasmania: Department of Primary Industry, 104 pp. (as Rodolia cardinalis)
TMAG collections
Classification
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Coccinelloidea
Family: Coccinellidae
Subfamily: Coccinellinae
Tribe: Noviini
Morphology
Typical length (mm): 4
Flightedness: winged and assumed capable of flight
Ecology
Assumed larval feeding: predator
Association with dead wood or old trees: not saproxylic
Ecological attributes: both adults and larvae feed on other insects, particularly scales and aphids, as well as mites. This species is a popular and successful biological control agent for scale on citrus and has been widely introduced beyond Australia for this puirpose.
