ICAR- NATIONAL BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL INSECT RESOURCES
Abstract
Not AvailableSurveys were undertaken to document the fauna of insects, spiders and
entomopathogenic nematodesacross India despite the travel restrictions due to COVID-19.
The expeditions undertaken yielded several species of natural enemies viz.,Chalcididae
(66.32%), Eulophidae (19.94%), Pteromalidae (4.14%) and Encyrtidae (3.37%) of
Hymenoptera and 14 species of trichogrammatids representing 7 genera. The predominant
genera of hymenopteran insect parasitoids were identified as Dirhinus Dalman (30.47%)
followed by Brachymeria Westwood (27.73%), Hockeria Walker (22.27%) and
Antrocephalus Kirby (18.75%). Revisionary studies of the braconid parasitoid, Apanteles
sp. ater-group including subgroup eublemmae of the genus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) of
the Oriental region was carried out with an illustrated key, in which a total of 97 species
were recorded and illustrated. Three species of tachinid flies, Peribaea orbata on larva of
Spodoptera litura, Halidaia luteicornis on larva of Parnara sp., Sturmiopsis inferens on
larva of Sesamia inferens and Carcelia sp. from the larvae of Helicoverpa armigera
(Noctuidae) were identified and described.
The spider fauna of rice ecosystem was documented, where six species of long jawed orb
weaver, Tetragnatha species have been described of which T. keyserlingi was the
predominant species across the surveyed locations in Tamil Nadu. The species,
Tetragnathanitens collected from Tamil Nadu and Telangana was the first report from
India. The spitting spider, Scytodes fusca Walckenaer of family Scyotidae was redescribed
with documentation of variations in the vulval pattern of the female and theory about the
introduction of this Pantropical species to India.Not Availabl
