THE PARASITIC HYi'viENOPTERA OF ECONOMIC IMPORTA~CE NOTED FROM SOUTH INDIA.

By T. V. RAMAKRISHNA AYYAR, i1J ad-ras Ag riwltmal Department.

73

Two previous lists of Parasitic Hymenoptera of economic importance have been prepared and published by the writer-one in 1919 and another in 1921; these included some of the more important of the economic forms then noted. During the last two or three years further work in this line was continued and additional data have been collected. In this paper an attempt is made to bring together in one incorporated list all the forms hitherto recorded from South India, at the same time revising the previous lists wherever necessary and adding recently collected data or data omitted from the two previous lists. It is believed that this revised list, with the available bionomical and synonymical notes, may be of some use for purposes of reference to those interested in this line of work. The writer takes this opportunity of expressing his thanks to the authorities of the Imperial Bureau of Entomology, London, and of the United States National Museum, Washington, for the help received from them in identifying some of the forms submitted to them, and confirming or correcting some of the identifications made at Coimbatore.

Family BnACONIDAE. Aphrastobracon flavip ennis, Ashm. ':' This is the insect referred to in the list of

1921 as l\1egalommmn sp. Owing to the very close relationship between these two genera it was at first identified as M egalonmmm. Ashmead first described this interest­ing insect from specimens reared on the lac insect in Ceylon in 1895. This species has been bred in South India in some numbers from two or three kinds of CocciDAE, namely, Tachm·dia lacca, Kerr, Pulvinaria maxima, Gr., andAnom.alococwsindiws, Gr. It has, however, been found to be parasitic on the Noctuid caterpillar, Et.tblem·ma scilula, Rmbr., which is a predator on the scale-insects noted above. It has also been bred from lac material in Mysore.

Glyptomorpha (Iphianlax) smee·mts, Cam. Parasitic on Buprestid larvae (Sphenoptera spp.) boring into ground-nut, cotton, and pulses. Coimbatore, Bellary, etc.

Glyptomorpha (Bracon) deesae, Cam. Parasitic on stem-boring Pyralids on cholam, ragi, etc. Coimbatore. A fairly common and large species.

Glyptomorpha (Bracon) nicevillei, Bing. A parasite on stem-boring caterpillars in S. India. Noted in cane and paddy fields in North Circars, S. Kanara, etc. ; not so common in Coimbatore as G. deesae. A very similar insect, Stenobracon sp., is recorded as a parasite of the paddy stem-borer (Schoenobiu.s) in Formosa, and probably G. deesae and nicevillei belong to that genus.

Iphiaulax spilocephalu.s, Cam. This and allied species of Iphia·ulax are commonly found in cholam fields, and they are probably parasitic on the stem-borers. lVJ erinottts, recorded in the 1921list, is a subgenus of Iphiau.lax , according to Szepligeti.

Ipobracon sp. Parasitic on the common Indian fruit-fly, Daws ( Chaetodacus) cucurbitae, on gourds. Coimbatore.

Pltilomacroploea basimacula, Cam. Parasitic on Danaine caterpillars on such garden plants as Calotrop1:s, Nerium, etc. It is probably a Chel01wgastra, Ashm.

Bathyaulax sp. Parasitic on a fruit-fly, Bactrocera sp., on Alangimn fru its. Anantapur District.

• Cp. Bull. E nt. R es . xvii, 1926, JlJl. nt-ns.

74 T. V. RAMAI<RISHNA AYYAR .

Campytoue11ms cey!on-icus, Cam. Parasitic on the grub of the Sesbania shoot weevil (A !cides bubo). Coimbatore. This insect was originally described by Cameron in the genus Bracon.

Jlhcrobmcon !efroyi, Dudg. & Gough. Parasitic on the cotton bollworms, Earias and P!atyedm, throughout India. Several colour variations have been observed in specimens reared from these and other hosts, and perhaps more than one species are concerned. The other hosts so far noted in S. India are Ad1:sura atkinsoni, Phthor1:maea b!apsig011a and Crocido!omia binotalis.

Microbracon sp. Parasitic on the brinjal stem-borer (Euzopliera) and the cholam stem-borer ( Chilo) in Coimbatore; appears to be close to Amyosoma (Microbracon) chelonis, Vier., on Chilo simplex in Formosa. Fairly common in Coimbatore.

Various species of lYhcrobracon have also been noted on the Zizyphus fruit-borer caterpillar (Mm:darchis SC)WOdes), and on the kolinji pod gall Gelechiid (Dact)'lethra candida).

Zombrtt.s sp. Parasitic on Cerambycid larvae boring in different plants; noted in Mala bar, N. Circars, etc. Turner has described a species of this genus ( T?·ichio­bracon striolat1.ts) from Dehra Dun . Tn:ckiob?·acon, Acanthobracon, T1"ichodoryctes and Neotr·im.onts are all synonyms of Zombms, according to Viereck.

Clinocentrns sp. Parasitic on the paddy skipper, Paru.ara mathias. Coimbatore.

H eteroga11ms perc·ltrrens, Lyle. Parasitic on Perigaea capensis infesting safflower plants. Coimbatore .

.Aleiodes sp. Parasitic on the Limacodid larva, Contlieyla rotu.nda, on coconut palm. Malabar.

Troporhogas mawli.pen:nis, Cam. (?). * Parasitic on the caterpillar of the hawk­moth, Daph:m:s 1?.e1"ii. Coimbatore.

Chelonus or Chelonella spp. Species of this easily recognisable genus have been noted on the tobacco stem-borer (Phthorimaea het1:opa), the paddy swarming caterpillar (Spodoptera mam·itia), the groundnut leaf-miner (Stomopteryx nerteria), the pink bollworm (Platyedra gossypiella) of cotton, the tobacco caterpillar (Proden-ia lit1t'ra), and on a species of Plusia.

Phanerotoma sp. Parasitic on the brinjal stem-borer (Emophera perticel!a). Coimbatore.

Phanerotoma sp. Parasitic on Etiella zinclwnella, the caterpillars of which infest the sann hemp plant. Coimbatore.

Phanerotoma sp. Parasitic on bag-worms (PsYCHIDAE) on different plants. Coimbatore.

Apanteles p1•odeniae, Vier., is parasitic on Prodenia litnm.

Apanteles taragamae, Vier ., parasitises Taragama do1·salis.

Apanteles (Protapanteles) colemani, Vier., parasitises Orgyia post1:ca.

Apanteles (Protapanteles) creatonoti, Vier., on Creatonot1ts albistriga.

Apanteles (Protapanteles) papit1:onis, Vier., on Papil-io dem.o!e'lts.

Apanteles (Protapanteles) stanropi, Vier., on Stau.ropns altemns.

Apanteles ph_vcoms, Vier., on Plt)'codes ·radiata.

Apanteles pl'ltsiae, Vier. , on Plu.S1:a pepom:s.

The above are the commoner species of this genus so far noted from South India; they were all first recorded from Mysore.

• Report IJf 5th Ent .. ~[ec ting, Pnsn, 1D23, p. 26~, Plate xxi.

the Sesbania shoot tally described by

1 bollworms, Em"ias 'e been observed in :han one species are £nsoni, Phtho?"imaea

wa) and the cholam soma (Microbracon) Coimbatore.

:izyphus fruit-borer lechiid ( Dacty lethra

~ent plants ; noted his genus ( Trichio­Trichodoryctes and

:f?.ias. Coimbatore .

infesting safflower

•ttmda, on coconut

pillar of the hawk-

e genus have been varming caterpillar Mrteria), the pink : (Prodenia litura),

wphera perticel/ a).

ars of which infest

different plants.

1.ca.

·iga.

'rom South India;

PARASITIC HYMENOPTERA OF ECONmJIC IMPORTANCE. 75

In addition to the above definitely determined species from Mysore, species of Apanteles have been reared in South India from larvae of Natada nararia, Euproctis sct:ntillans and fraterna, Psalis sec-rm:s, Perigaea capensis, Exelastes atomosa, Platyedra gossypt:ella, Phtst:a pepotl.is, Nephantt:s serinopa, Stmtropus altermts, Amsacta spp. Parasa lepida, Parnara sp., etc.

Apanteles (Stenoplema) sp. Parasitic on borers in sugar-cane, cholam and maize. Godavari and Coimbatore .

Mic?·oplt:tis ensirus, Lyle. A specific and effective parasite on the castor semilooper, Achaea janata, all over South India. (Cp. Jl. Bombay N.H.S. xxviii, 1921 , pp . 298-300.)

Mic?·opl·itis sp. Parasitic on the caterpillar of a hawk moth, Niacroglosswn sp. Coimbatore. Evidently an undescribed species.

Et1agath£s cryptophlebiae, Vier. Parasitic on a Eucosmid caterpillar (A1•gyroploce illepida ?). Mysore.

Disophry s sp. Parasitic on a Hypsid moth, Hypsa jt:Cits, on FiCits indiws . Coimbatore.

Dt:sophrys sp. Parasitic on a Lymantriid moth, E~tproctis jrater·n.a, on rose leaves. Madras.

~1icrodns sp. Parasitic on the brinjal leaf-roller Noctuid (Enblemma ol·ivacea).

Cardt:ochiles sp. Parasitic on the paddy leaf-roller ( Cnaphalocrocis medinal-is). Ganjam.

Tropob?•acon lute·us Cam. (?). Noted as parasitic on the paddy stemborer (Schoenobitts). Specimens have been collected from South Kanara, the N. Circars and the Ceded Districts. This species appears to be very closely allied both to H abrobracon, Ashm ., and to Shirakia, Vier.- the latter described as parasitic on Schoenobius in Formosa. My examples appear to be somewhat different from Cameron's type.

Attstroopi·us sp. On the fruit-fly, Dacns longt:sty f.11s, attacking the seed capsules of Calot?·opis, in South India.

Opius fletcheri, Silv. Parasitic on fly maggots infesting various fruits such as watermelons, Zizyplms, mango, guava, and Cucurbitaceae; commonly found on Dac·z,ts ( Chaetodaws) cucurb#ae throughout India.

Op·i'lts (Diachasmimorpha) comper·ii, Vier. On fruit-fly maggots.

Opit.ts incisi, Silv. On DaCits ( Chaetodaws) incistts infesting fruits of the tree, Caryea arbo1•ea. Coorg.

Opi11.s ( Biosteres) persltlcatns, Silv.

Opitts ( Biosteres) compensans, Silv.

On Dactf.s ( Chaetodaws) inc-isns. Coorg.

On D. ( Chaetodaws) incistts. Coorg.

Opiu.s (Biosteres) carpomyiae, Silv. On a fly boring into Zizyphus fruits . Coimbatore.

M eteoms arctit:c-ida, Vier. Parasitic on Arctiid larvae.

M eteoru.s sp. Parasitic on Cirphis albt:st·igma on paddy. a new species.

lVIysore.

South Arcot.

Aphiditts colemani, Vier. Parasitic on tobacco aphis. Bangalore.

Evidently

Spathiu.s sp. Parasitic on the shot-hole borer (Dinodems) in bamboo frame-work. Coimbatore.

Asobara ort'entalis, Vier. Parasitic on fruit-flies.

76 T. V. RAMAI<RISHNA AYYAR.

Family I cHNEUMONIDAE. Xanthophnplaimmaculata, Morl. Parasitic on the paddy skipper, Parnara ·matltias.

Palur (S. Arcot) , Madras, a nd Coimbatore. Xanthopirnpla p edator, F. On various caterpillars in Koilpatti, S. India. and on

Chilo in Coimbatore. Xanthopimpla nursei, Cam. On Ch-ilo simplex and allied caterpillars. All over

South India. Xanthopimpla sp. On the paddy Noctuid, C·irphis albistigma. Palur, S. Arcot. Xanthopimpla p ·unctata, F. On borer larvae. Saidapet and Samalkota. Bass-ns clotho, Morl. R ecorded as bred from Pl1ttella larvae, but evidently this

is a mistake, as these insects parasitise Syrphid larvae. Smat and Coimbatore. Pm~iscus ocellaris, Th. On caterpillars of Achaea janata on castor. Coimbatore. H enicosp-il·ns merdarins, Gr. On caterpillars of E1tproctis sciu t-illans and E .

jraterna . Saidapet and Coimbatore. H eniscosp1:Z.us horsfieldi, Cam. On hairy caterpillars . S. India. H eniscospil-tts sp. On the castor caterpillar, Achaea j anata. Coimbatore. Hy menobosmena sp. Parasitic on the brinjalleaf-folder ( Eublemma ol·ivacea) and

the gingelly leaf caterpillar (Antigastra catalaunal1:s). Coimbatore. Dioctes argenteop ilosa, Cam. On the tobacco caterpillar, Prodenia litura.

Coimbatore. It has also been recorded on Laph~)'gma ex1:gna in the Central Provinces. P r·istoments testaceus, Morl. On the brinjal stem-borer, E1t.zophera p erticella;

has also been recorded on the brinj al fruit-borer, L eucinodes orbonalis. Attur, Chingleput.

Pristomem s enzopherae, Vier. 0 n Enzophera p erticella. Bangalore. Pristoments sp. On the Cossid, Azygophleps scalar·is. Coimbatore. (Cp . Proc.

4th Ent. Meeting, Pusa. ) Isclmojoppa l-ltteolator, F. Very common in Coimbatore and other places in

S. India. It has been recorded as apparently a parasite of the paddy stem-borer, Schoenobizts, all over India.

M icrotoridea lissonota, Vier. On the cotton leaf-roller, Sylepta derogata. Mysore. ZamesocJwnts orientalis, Vier. Mesochor·us phtsiephilm, Vier.

p epon-is. Bangalore.

On Achaea janata. Mysore. A hyperparasite of Apanteles plusiae on Pl-ttsia

Family EvANIIDAE. Evania antermalis, Westw. The common shining black species parasitizing

egg-capsules of cockroaches. South India.

Superfamily SERPHOIDEA. T eleno·mus colemani, Crawf. Parasitic on eggs of a Pentatomid bug, Doly coris

z'ndictts. Mysore. T elenomus latisulws, Crawf. From eggs of a Pentatomid, Coptosoma cribraria,

Coimbatore; also bred from brood-cells of a carpenter bee ( Xylocopa) in Mysore. H adronotzts julviventris, Crawf. From eggs of Clavigralla. Coimbatore. Ceraphron sp. On Pl1tsia agram·nta. Coimbatore . Polygnot1ts sp. On the paddy gall-fly, Pacliydiplosis oryzae. Tanjore. X estonotidea fo erster·i, Gah. From galls on grass, evidently on gall flies . Coimbatore. Scelio spp. From eggs of grasshoppers on paddy, Hieroglyplms banian and Oxya

velox. Coimbatore.

er, Pamm'a mathias.

tti, S. India. and on

. terpillars. All over

. a. Palur, S. Arcot. d Samalkota. , but evidently this nd Coimbatore.

astor. Coimbatore. sc1:nt£llans and E.

I a.

Coimbatore.

:~mma oNvacea) and

Prodenia titura. . e Central Provinces. uzop!tera p erticella · s orboualis. Attur:

. galore.

batore. (Cp. Proc.

nd other places in paddy stem-borer,

! derogata. Mysore.

s Plusiae on Plusia

>pecies parasi tizing

mid bug, Dotycoris

7optosorna cribraria ?copa) in Mysore. ' )imbatore.

Tanjore.

1 flies . Coimbatore. !S banian and Oxya

PARASITIC HYJ\JE,-OPTERA OF ECONQ;\IIC IMPORTANCE. 77

Superfamily CHALCIDOIDEA. Chalcis argentijrons, Ashm. On a Lasiocampid caterpillar. Coimbatore. Stomatoceras ayyar1:, Gah. On a Limacodid, Parasa lepida. Coimbatore. Stomatoceras snlcatiswtell1tm, Gir. On the palm caterpillar, N ephant·£s serinopa,

South India. Goniogaster varicornis, May. From fruits of Fie-us. Coimbatore . Walterella temeraria, vVestw. From fruits of F1:cu.s indictts. Madras . Podagrion sp. From egg-capsules of Mantis sp. Coimbatore. E·~trytoma parasae, Gah. On Parasa lepida and Tltosea sp. Coimbatore. Emytoma denticoxa, Gah. From stored maize seeds-probably parasitic on some

meal-worm caterpillar. Coimbatore. E urytoma dentipect1.ts. Gah. On the gingelly gall-fly, Asphondy l·ia sesamz.

Coimbatore. E1trytoma setitibia, Gah. From galls on Trewia. Coimbatore. EMytoma chrysothrix, Waterst. Parasitic on maggots boring into bamboo shoots.

Walayar Forests, South India. Bmchophag?ts m ell·1:pes, Gah. Boring into Sesbania seeds. S. India. (Phyto­

phagous.) Aphyws fnsc-idorswn, Gah. Parasite on a scale, Ceroplastodes cajan·i, on Dol-ichos

lablab. Coimbatore . Aphycnsjlavns, How. ? On the nim scale, Pnlvinan:a m axima. Coimbatore. Am:cetns cey lonmsis, How. On P.nlvinar£a max·ima. Coimbatore. Paracop ·idosomopsis javae, Gir. On a Noctuid, P lns-ia signata. Coimbatore . Encyrttts lecan·£ormn,. Mayr. On L ecani1t1n nigrnm. Coimbatore . This 1s

Encomys lecaniomm of the 1921 list. A n.astatns colemani, Craw£. Parasitic on eggs of a Pentatomid bug, Degonet'lts

serrat1ts. Bangalore. Anastat·us sp. On the eggs of a grasshopper, Oxya velox , and of a hawk-moth,

Polypt.ychus dentatus . Coimbatore. N eanastatns trochanter·iws, Gah. From grass galls, probably on a gall-fly.

Coimbatore. Bmchoc1:da orientalis, Crawf. On larvae of Bmc}ms chinensis . Bangalore. Scutellista cyanea, Mot. On L ecanium nigrmn and L. oleae. Coimbatore. Bmchobi1o/-s colemani, Crawf. Bred from pods of Cajamts 1:ndicus, evidently

parasitic on a species of Bmclms. Coimbatore. Pteromalt.ts oryzae, Cam. On the rice weevil, Calandra oryzae ; all over India. Enpteromal·us parnarae, Gah. On the paddy Hesperiid, Parnara math-ias.

Karvetnagar. Aplastomorpha calandrae, How. Parasitic on a beetle, Sitodrepa, infesting stored

coriander. Madras. This is Merapoms vandinei of the 1921list. Elasmus indiws, Roh. On a scale, Anomalacocczts 1:nd1:ws, Gr. Coimbatore. Elasmusnephantidis, Roh. On the palm caterpillar, Nephantis serinopa. Coimba­

tore ; found also in other places in South India. P ediobopsis loc?.tstivora, Roh. On eggs of Tettigoniids on the edge of a Cordia

leaf. Coimbatore. Pleztrotrop1:s epilacJmae, Roh . On grubs of a Coccinellid beetle, Epilachna.

Coimbatore.

78 T . V. RA~IAKRISHNA AYYAR.

Pleurotropis Joveolaltts, Crawf. On grubs of Epilaclma. Bangalore. Tetrasticlms ayyari, Roh. On the cholam borer, Chilo s1:mplex. Coimbatore. Tetrastich~ts nyemitanras, Roh. On the cholam stem maggot. Coimbatore. Tetrast1:chus okawus, Roh. Reared from cumbu grains; probably on gall-flies.

Coimbatore. Tet-rastichus isaaci, Roh. From galls on 111 acrina ameria; probably on gall-flies.

Coimbatore. Tetrasticlms coimbatorensis, Roh. On the cholam gall-fly. Coimbatore. Tetrastichns colemani, Crawf. On grubs of a Cassidid beetle, Aspidomorpha.

Bangalore. Tetrastichus ophi?tsae, Crawf. On the castor Noctuid, Achaea janata. Mysore. Ootetrasticlms sp. On eggs of a Fulgorid (Pu·n.dal?toya) on cholam. Coimbatore. T·mnidiscapns oopliag?ts, Gir. On eggs of the paddy grasshopper, Oxya.

Coimbatore. Euplectrus b1tsbyi, Crawf. On a caterpillar on leaves of Ponga·mia. Coimbatore. Euplectms le~tcostonms, Roh. On a caterpillar on castor. Coimbatore. Euplectms euplex·iae, Roh. On a Noctuid, Perigaea capensis. Coimbatore. Euplectms nyctemerae, Crawf. On the caterpillar of a Hypsid, Nyctemera

lactinia. Bangalore. Emyscotolinx coimbatorensis, Roh. On the lab-lab leaf-miner, Cyphost·icha

coemlea. Coimbatore. Asympieseilla ind1:ca, Gir. On the red gram leaf-roller, Gracillaria soyella.

Coimbatore . Cass1:docida aspidomorphae, Crawf. On the grub of a Cassidid beetle, Aspidomorpha

milian:s . Bangalore and Coimbatore. Anen:st11s ceroplaste, How. (= Coccophag·us or1:entalis, How.). On the black scale,

Lecanimn nigrum. Coimbatore. M arietta leopardina, Mot. On the nim scale, Pulvinaria maxima. Coimbatore. Ceratonenra ind-i, Gir. From shoots of Sesbania aegyptiaca. Coimbatore. Ceratonem·a indica, Roh. From plant galls. Coimbatore. ::,"yntomosphyrum indiwm, Silv. On fruit-fly maggots . S. India. This parasite

was collected and taken to Australia by Mr. Compere in 1907. Paranagms optabilis, Perk. On eggs of the cholam shoot Fulgorid (P.undal?.toya).

Coimbatore.

Family BETHYLIDAE. Tr·issomal11s fulvicomis, Roh. On the caterpilla r of Argyroploce illepida. Mysore.