Kingdom Animalia Genus Hoangus Phylum Arthropoda Rank Species | Family Coccinellidae Scientific name Cassiculus venustus Higher classification Cassiculus Order Beetle | |
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Similar Beetle, Henosepilachna vigintisexpunctata, Illeis galbula, Harmonia conformis, Halmus chalybeus | ||
Hoangus venustus, commonly known as the flax ladybird, is a species of ladybird beetle that is native to New Zealand, being found at least in the North Island. It can be found on New Zealand flax (Phormium) and Toetoe (cutty grass), reportedly eating the mealybugs that live there. Previously known as Cassiculus venustus, the valid name of the species is now Hoangus venustus.
The species' colouration is black and orange: its head is orange on each side with black running down the middle, while its elytra or wing cases (which cover the back) are orange around the edge with black covering much of the area. It has four orange dots on this black area, two on each elytron. It is about 4 mm long from the tip of the head to the end of the abdomen (description based on a life-size photo in Andrew Crowe's Which New Zealand Insect).