TAXONOMIC STUDY OF CHALCIDIDAE (CHALCIDOIDEA: HYMENOPTERA) OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA-PAKISTAN
BY
TOHEED IQBAL
A Dissertation submitted to The University of Agriculture, Peshawar in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN AGRICULTURE (ENTOMOLOGY)
DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY FACULTY OF CROP PROTECTION SCIENCES
THE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE PESHAWAR KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA-PAKISTAN
MAY, 2015
TAXONOMIC STUDY OF CHALCIDIDAE (CHALCIDOIDEA: HYMENOPTERA) OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA-PAKISTAN
BY TOHEED IQBAL
A Dissertation submitted to The University of Agriculture, Peshawar in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN AGRICULTURE (ENTOMOLOGY)
Approved By:
_________________________ Prof. Dr. Mian Inayatullah Chairman Supervisory Committee
_________________________ Prof. Dr. Sajjad Ahmad Member Major Field
_________________________ Prof. Dr. Farman Ullah Member Minor Field Deptt. of Plant Protection
_________________________ Prof. Dr. Mohammad Naeem Chairman and Convener Board of Studies
_________________________ Prof. Dr. Mian Inayatullah Dean, Faculty of Crop Protection Sciences
_________________________ Prof. Dr. Farhatullah Director, Advanced Studies & Research
DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY FACULTY OF CROP PROTECTION SCIENCES
THE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE PESHAWAR KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA-PAKISTAN
MAY, 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF PLATES …...……………………………………….............................. I LIST OF FIGURES...………………………………………….............................. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT …………………………………………….................. iii ABSTRACT ……………………………………………........................................ iv
1. INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………................. 1 1.1 Biology and Economic Importance …………………………………... 1 1.2 Distribution ……………………………………………........................ 3 1.3 Classification ……………………………………………..................... 3
2. OBJECTIVES ……………………………………………....................... 6
3. REVIEW OF LITERATURE …………………………………………. 7 3.1 Work done in Pakistan ……………………………………………...... 13
4. MATERIALS AND METHODS ………………………………………. 15
4.1 Collection and Preservation of Chalcididae ………………………….. 15 4.2 Identification ……………………………………………..................... 16 4.3 Description and Illustration …………………………………………... 16 4.4 Key to different Taxa ……………………………………………........ 16 4.5 Repository ……………………………………………......................... 17 4.6 Terminology and Abbreviations ……………………………………… 17
5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ………………………………………... 19
5.1 Distinguishing Characters of Chalcididae ……………………………. 19 5.2 Key to genera of Chalcididae ………………………………………… 21 5.3 Subfamily Haltichellinae ……………………………………………. 24
5.3.1 Tribe Haltichellini ……………………………………………............. 24 5.3.1.1 Genus Antrocephalus Kirby ……………………………………....... 25
5.3.1.1.1 Key to the species of Genus Antrocephalus Kirby .………………...... 26 5.3.1.1.2 Species Antrocephalus mitys Walker ……..………......……………... 26 5.3.1.1.3 Species Antrocephalus nicus Narendran .…………......…………….... 30 5.3.1.2 Genus Hockeria Walker…………..…......……………....................... 32
5.3.1.2.1 Key to species of Genus Hockeria Walker ………..……......……….. 33 5.3.1.2.2 Species Hockeria angentigera Holmgren …………......…………….. 33 5.3.1.2.3 Species Hockeria nikolskayae Husain & Agarwal ......………..……... 35 5.3.1.3 Genus Kriechbaumerella Dalla Torre ……….........……………....... 38
5.3.1.3.1 Key to the species of Genus Kriechbaumerella Dalla Torre ………… 39 5.3.1.3.2 Species Kriechbaumerella ayyari (Gahan) ……..………......………... 39 5.3.1.3.3 Species Kriechbaumerella kala Narendran …………......…………... 42 5.3.1.4 Genus Neochalcis Kirby ………………......……………................... 45
5.3.1.4.1 Species Neochalcis breviceps (Masi) ………………......…………….. 45 5.3.2 Tribe Hybothoracini ………………………......……………................ 48
5.3.2.1 Genus Psilochalcis Kieffer ……..………......….…………................. 48
5.3.2.1.1 Species Psilochalcis carinigena (Cameron) .….………......………….. 49 5.3.2.2 Genus Proconura Dodd ………………………......……………......... 52
5.3.2.2.1 Species Proconura minusa Narendran ……..……......……………...... 52 5.3.2.3 Genus Neohybothorax Nikol`skaya .………......……………............ 55
5.3.2.3.1 Species Neohybothorax hetera (Walker) ……………......…………… 55
5.4 Subfamily Chalcidinae ………………………......…………….......... 58 5.4.1 Genus Chalcis Fabricius ..…………......……………......................... 58 5.4.2 Species Chalcis gibsoni Narendran .…………......……………........... 59 5.4.2 Tribe Brachymeriini ………………………......……………................ 62 5.4.2 Genus Brachymeria Westwood …………......……………................ 62
5.4.2.1 Key to species of Genus Brachymeria Westwood ..…………......…… 64 5.4.2.2 Species Brachymeria alternipes (Walker) ……………......………….. 65 5.4.2.3 Species Brachymeria apicicornis (Cameron) .…………......………… 67 5.4.2.4 Species Brachymeria jambolana (Gahan) .……………......…………. 69 5.4.2.5 Species Brachymeria marginiscutis (Cameron) .…………......……… 72 5.4.2.6 Species Brachymeria minuta (Linnaeus) .…………......……………... 74 5.4.2.7 Species Brachymeria podagrica (Fabricius) ..…………......…………. 79 5.4.2.8 Species Brachymeria habui Huseyin Ozdikmen …......………………. 83 5.4.2.9 Species Brachymeria medicina Joseph, Narendran & Joy .…………... 86
5.5 Subfamily Dirhininae ………………………......…………………… 88
5.5.1 Genus Dirhinus Dalman ………..……......………………………….. 88 5.5.1.1 Key to the species of Genus Dirhinus Dalman ..……………......……. 89
5.5.1.1.1 Species Dirhinus anthracia Walker ………..……......………………. 90 5.5.1.1.2 Species Dirhinus auratus Ashmead ……………......………………… 94 5.5.1.1.3 Species Dirhinus hesperidum (Rossi) ..……………......……………... 96 5.5.1.1.4 Species Dirhinus himalayanus Westwood …..………......…………… 99 5.5.1.1.5 Species Dirhinus secundarius Masi …………..……......……………. 102
5.6 Subfamily Epitraninae ………………………......………………….. 105
5.6.1 Genus Epitranus Walker …..…………......…………………………. 105 5.6.1.1 Key to the species of Genus Epitranus Walker .......……………………. 106 5.6.1.1 Species Epitranus parvidens (Strand) .……………......……………... 106 5.6.1.2 Species Epitranus elongatulus (Motschulsky) ………......…………… 108
6 SUMMARY………………………......……………………………… 111
7 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ………………… 113
8 LITERATURE CITED ……………………………………………... 115
9 PLATES ………....………………………………………………….. 133
10 FIGURES ……..……………………………………………………. 154
!
i
LIST OF PLATES
1. Proconura Minusa Narendran …………………………….. 134 - 136
2 Brachymeria alternipes (Walker) ……………………….. 136 - 137
3 Brachymeria apicicornis (Cameron) …………………… 137 – 138
4 Brachymeria jambolana (Gahan) ………………………. 138 - 139
5 Brachymeria minuta (Linnaeus) …………………………... 140 - 141
6 Brachymeria podagrica (Fabricius) ……………………. 141 - 142
7 Brachymeria marginiscutis (Cameron) ………………… 143 - 144
8 Brachymeria habui Huseuin Ozdikmen ………………… 145
9 Brachymeria medicina Joseph, Narendran & Joy ……… 146 - 147
10 Dirhinus anthracia Walker……………………………….. 147 – 148
11 Dirhinus auratus Ashmead ………………………………. 148 - 149
12 Dirhinus himalayanus Westwood ………………………… 149 - 151
13 Dirhinus hesperidum (Rossi) ..……………………………. 151 - 152
14 Dirhinus secundarius Masi …..…………………………… 152 - 153
ii
LIST OF FIGURES
1. Generalised head of Chalcididae ………………………. 155
2 Lateral View of Head Profile …………………………... 155
3 Antennal segments ……………………………………... 156
4 Mesosoma of Chalcididae ……………………………… 156
5 Wing Venation …………………………………………. 157
6 Hind Leg ……………………….………………………. 157
7 Lateral View of Metasoma …………………………….. 157
8 Antrocephalus mitys Walker ……………………………… 158 - 160
9 Antrocephalus nicus Narendran .………………………… 160 - 161
10 Hockeria argentigera Holmgren …………………………. 162 - 163
11 Hockeria nikolskayae Husain & Agarwal ………………. 164 - 166
12 Kriechbaumerella ayyari (Gahan) ………………………... 166 - 168
13 Kriechbaumerella kala Narendran ……………………….. 169 - 170
14 Neochalcis breviceps (Masi) …………………………….. 170 - 172
15 Psilochalcis carinigena (Cameron) …………………….. 172 - 174
16 Neohybothorax hetera (Walker) ………………………… 174 - 175
17 Chalcis gibsoni Narendran ………………………………… 176 - 177
18 Epitranus parvidens (Strand) ……………………………… 178 - 179
19 Epitranus elongatulus (Motschulsky) ……………………. 179 - 181
iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I prostrate in gratitude to Almighty Allah, the Most Merciful and Beneficent, Whose bounteous Blessings, enabled me to perceive and pursue higher ideals of life.
I wish to express my sincerest thanks to my Supervisor & Dean, Prof. Dr. Mian Inayatullah, Department of Entomology, Faculty of Crop Protection Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar for his inspiration, guidance and generous assistance throughout this study and ultimately in presentation of this dissertation.
I would also like to thank my supervisory committee members, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Naeem, Chairman, Department of Entomology, Prof. Dr. Sajjad Ahmad, Member Major Field, Department of Entomology and Prof. Dr. Farman Ullah, Member Minor Field, Department of Plant Protection, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar for serving as my committee members.
Special thanks are offered to Prof. Dr. Lynn S. Kimsey, Director, Bohart Museum of Entomology, University of California, Davis, USA for providing me an opportunity to work in her lab. I am also thankful to Steve L. Heydon, Curator Bohart Museum of Entomology, UC Davis and all the members of Bohart Museum who helped, supported me and loved me just like their family during my stay at UC Davis.
I heartedly thank Higher Education Commission of Pakistan to grant me Indigenous Fellowship for my PhD studies in Pakistan and also enabled me to explore horizons of research and latest taxonomic techniques in University of California, Davis, USA through International Research Support Initiative Program (IRSIP).
I would also like to thank Dr. Wasiullah Malik and Dr. Ghulam Nabi, Associate Professors, Amir Muhammad Khan Campus Mardan, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, for their help in reviewing of my thesis and providing me valuable suggestions in thesis write up.
I am also grateful to all the Faculty and staff members of the Department of Entomology for their cooperation, affections and sincere help during my study. I am highly obliged and record my sincere appreciation and acknowledgment to my friends Mr. Fazal Said, Mr. Irfanullah, Mr. Fakhruddin, Mr. Bashir Ahmad, Mr. Akhtar Ali, and Mr. Waheed Ullah.
Last but not the least; I cannot express how grateful I am to my father, mother and family for all of the sacrifices that they have made on my behalf, every member of my family has contributed immeasurably in a special way. I hope I have not lost too much during the tenure of my study.
TOHEED IQBAL
iv
TAXONOMIC STUDY OF CHALCIDIDAE (CHALCIDOIDEA: HYMENOPTERA) OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA-PAKSTAN
Toheed Iqbal and Mian Inayatullah
Department of Entomology, Faculty of Crop Protection Sciences The University of Agriculture, Peshawar-Pakistan
May, 2015
ABSTRACT
A study was initiated on Taxonomy of Chalcididae of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Diverse ecological zones were surveyed at different times and seasons of the year. Most of the collection was done from grasses and low vegetation during 1998-2014. Some of the species were reared from their hosts in laboratory. Two hundred specimens of Chalcididae were examined. It was found that 26 species belonging to 11 genera under four subfamilies are occurring in the area. The subfamilies include Haltichellinae, Chalcidinae, Dirhininae and Epitraninae. Subfamily Haltichellinae comprises of genus Antrocephalus Kirby, Hockeria Walker, Kriechbaumerella Dalla Torre, Neochalcis Kirby, Neohybothorax Nikol’skaya, Psilochalcis Kieffer and Proconura Dodd & Girault. Genus Antrocephalus Kirby include two species viz., Antrocephalus mitys Walker and A. nicus Narendran; genus Hockeria Walker is represented by two species viz., Hockeria argentigera Holmgren and H. nikolskayae Husain & Agarwal; genus Kriechbaumeralla Dalla Torre consist of Kriechbaumerella ayyari (Gahan) and K. kala Narendran; genus Neochalcis Kirby comprises of only one species, Neochalcis breviceps (Masi); genus Neohybothorax is represented by one species, Neohybothoax hetera (Walker); genus Psilochalis Kieffer is also represented by one species Psilochalcis carinigena (Cameron) and genus Proconura Dodd & Girault comprises of one species Proconura minusa Narendran. Two genera namely, genus Brachymeria Westwood and genus Chalcis Fabricius were found in Subfamily Chalcidinae. Genus Brachymeria Westwood was found to be the most speciose genus with 8 species including Brachymeria alternipes (Walker), B. apicicornis (Cameron), B. jambolana (Gahan), B. marginiscutis (Cameron), B. minuta (Linnaeus), B. podagrica (Fabricius), B. habui Huseyin Ozdikmen and B. medicina Joseph, Narendran & Joy. Genus Chalcis Fabricius is represented by a single species Chalcis gibsoni Narendran. Subfamily Dirhininae includes one genus Dirhinus Dalman which is represented by five species viz., Dirhinus anthracia Dalman, Dirhinus auratus Ashmead, Dirhinus hesperidum (Rossi), Dirhinus himalayanus Westwood and Dirhinus secundarius Masi. Subfamily Epitraninae contains one genus Epitranus Walker. Two species Epitranus parvidens (Strand) and Epitranus elongatulus (Motschulsky) were found in genus Epitranus Walker. All except H. nikolskayae are new records for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Illustrated keys to the genera and species of Chalcididae of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are provided. Host range, distribution, type material examined and improved description of males and females are also provided. The species were confirmed by comparing them with paratypes available at Bohart Museum of Entomology, University of California, Davis, USA.
1
I- INTRODUCTION !
Biology and Economic Importance
Chalcidid wasps are solitary endoparasites of other insects, but a few species are
gregarious (Bouček, 1988). Most of these parasitoids attack Lepidopteran and Dipteran
pupae but some others also attack Chrysomalidae (Coleoptera), Neuroptera and
Hymenoptera. One species has also been recorded from free-living Strepsiptera (Bouček,
1988). Some species are hyperparasitoids as most of them are primary parasites (Habu,
1960). Hyperparasitic species are found in genera Brachymeria, Antrocephalus,
Notaspediella and Proconura (Bouček, 1992). Genera of subfamily Haltichellinae mostly
parasitize lepidopterous pupae. A few species are known to attack solitary bees which
nest in hollow twigs, the larvae of ant lions, and coleopterous larvae or pupae. The
species of Dirhininae, attack the pupal stage of Tephritidae and synanthropic flies (e.g.
Podagrion males). The life histories of genera of Chalcidinae are variable. Chalcis
attacks pupae of Stratiomyiidae associated with boggy or marshy areas (fresh and salt
water). The only known species of Metadontia parasitizes lycaenid larvae. The majority
of Conura attack lepidopterous pupae, but a few are known from Coleoptera
(Chrysomelidae, Curculionidae), Diptera (Syrphidae), and as secondary parasites of
Ichneumonidae and Braconidae. Among Brachymerini, Brachymeria are mostly primary
parasites of Lepidoptera but a few attack muscoid Diptera as well as acting as secondary
parasites attacking tachinid and sarcophagid Diptera. In Phasgonophorini, Trigonura and
Phasgonophora both attack buprestids and the former genus also attacks scolytid beetles
Cowan (1979).
All Chalcididae are parasitoids of larvae or pupae of other insects, mostly
Lepidoptera and Diptera, but also Coleoptera, Neuroptera, and Hymenoptera (Clausen,
1940; Burks, 1960; Grissell & Schauff, 1990). Host families of Chalcididae include
Muscidae, Sarcophagidae, Glossinidae, Calliphoridae, Stratiomyiidae, Tephritidae and
Syrphidae (Diptera); Braconidae, Argidae, Ichneumonidae, Megachilidae, Elasmidae and
Vespidae (Hymenoptera); Coccinellidae, Beprestidae, Bruchidae and Chrysomelidae
(Coleoptera); Myrmeleonitidae (Neuroptera); and Mengeidae (Hockeria mengenillarum
(Silvestri) on Mangenilla sp.) (Strepsiptera) (Wijeskera, 1997).
2
Studies on the biology of Chalcididae showed that they might be ectoparasitoids
or endoparasitoids. Most appear to be idiobionts; some are koinobionts. Many chalcidids
are strictly primary parasitoids, but others are facultative or obligatory hyperparasitoids.
Most chalcidids are solitary parasitoids but a few are gregarious. About 200 species of
Brachymeria exist worldwide, with 42 described from the Neotropics. They further
stated that chalcidids develop as parasitoids in the pupae of a wide range of Lepidoptera,
Coleoptera, and Diptera hosts. Conura was discovered as primarily a New World genus
with many species in the Neotropics, which are larval parasitoids of pupae of
Lepidoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, and Hymenoptera. Melanosmicra is restricted to the
Neotropics where there are about 30 species (biology unknown). The genus Dirhinus
consists of about 15 species in the Neotropics region, which are parasitoids in puparia of
various Diptera (Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Sarcophagidae, and Tephritidac). The genus
Haltichella is represented in the Neotropics by five species; there are currently about 20
species of this genus parasitizing Lepidoptera pupae (Hanson and Gauld (1995)).
A few species are phytophagous and the larvae feed inside seeds, stems and galls.
Generally beneficial to humans as a group, chalcidids keep various crop pests under
control, and many species have been imported to control insect pests (Cowan, 1979).
They have a significant part to play in ecosystems and their true importance must not be
underestimated (Ubaidillah, 1996).
Six species of Chalcididae parasitized the eggs and larvae of Hypsipyla robusta, a
serious pest of Cedrela toona and Swietenia macrophylla in India. Further, it was
reported that Antrocephalus hakonensis, A. hypsiphylae, Brachymeria euploeae, B.
hearseyi, B. tachardiae and Kriechbaumerella destructor were also parasitoids of the
same host (Kazmi and Chauhan, 2003).
Speceis Dirhinus insulare was reported to be parasitoid of Diamond Back Moth.
The highest level of parasitism caused by D. insulare on Diamond Back Moth was
recorded in the spring summer season of 1996 at `La Soledad' farm with averages of
42.7, 45.0 and 44.5% on cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower, respectively. The most
abundant and frequently occurring species was D. insulare. In further study it was
reported that Spilochalcis (Conura) sp. was a hyperparasitoid of Dirhinus insulare
(Castillo et al., 2004).
3
Species of Chalcididae, Conura annulifera (Walker, 1864) and Brachymeria
podagrica (Fabricius, 1787), were reared from Philornis puparia and also found them to
be parasitoids of Philornis Meinert larvae, which were known as parasites of birds (Couri
et al., (2006).
Four species of Chalcididae were associated with Parides ascanius (Lepidoptera:
Papilionidae). Among them, Brachymeria koehleri Blanchard and B. nigritibialis
Marcelo were recorded as hyperparasitoids through Lespesia sp. (Diptera: Tachinidae)
whereas Brachymeria mnestor (Walker) and Conura parides Marcelo were recorded as
primary parasitoids (Marcelo et al., 2006).
Distribution
Chalcididae is cosmopolitan in distribution and particularly diverse in tropical
lowland areas (Clausen, 1940). The family presently comprises about 1500 species
distributed in nearly 90 genera (Burks, 1960; Habu, 1960; Gauld & Bolton, 1988;
Askew, 1994; Pujade and Villar, 1994).
According to Bouček (1988), Chalcididae are distributed worldwide and are most
diverse in tropical regions with about 200 species occurring in Northern Hemisphere,
while the Nearctic count for Chalcidids is about 100 species. The poorly known
Neotropical region has over 200 described species. Genus Brachymeria is fairly well
spread over the world (de Santis, 1979). Genus Brachymeria and Dirhinus are distributed
worldwide whereas Conura are largely confined to New World (Steffan, 1958; Grissell
& Schauff, 1990) or to the Old World (Bouček, 1992). According to Bouček (1988), 21
genera are endemic to Australia. The subfamily Haltichellinae is well distributed in
southern hemisphere, whereas subfamily Epitraniniae and Smicromorphinae are confined
to the southern Old World (Grissell & Schauff, 1990).
Classification
Family Chalcididae (Chalcidoidea: Hymenoptera) is a distinct family of
superfamily Chalcidoidea. As members of the superfamily Chalcidoidea, they are
generally small, with geniculate antennae and reduced wing venation (Sheela et al.,
2003). Chalcidoids or chalcid wasps are one of the most diverse groups of Hymenoptera
4
(bees, ants, wasps) numerically, structurally, and biologically (Mockford, 1997). The
family comprises of about 70 (Bouček, 1988) to 88 (Noyes, 2014) genera and about 1500
species worldwide (Narendran, 1989; Wijesekara, 1997); Rajabi et al., 2011).
Superfamily Chalcidoidea include 15 families and family Chalcididae is one of
them. Among the Chalcidoids (commonly called chalcid wasps), members of the family
Chalcididae (commonly called chalcidid wasps) can be recognized by the characteristic
reduced wing venation in combination with greatly enlarged hind femora with a row of
teeth or serrations along the lower margin. The prepectus is extremely reduced to be
unnoticeable. They are generally black sometimes with yellow markings on body. Some
members of other chalcidoid families like Leucospidae, Torymidae, and Pteromalidae
also possess the enlarged hind femur, but chalcidids can be readily separated from these
subfamilies by the reduced prepectus, robust and heavily sclerotised and coarsely
punctured bodies.
The Chalcididae has received considerable taxonomic attention especially due to
their relatively large body size. Unlike other Chalcidoids, this group has been studied
worldwide (Schmitz, 1946a; Habu, 1960, 1962; Nikol’skaya, 1952; Bouček, 1988, 1992
and Narendran, 1989) but no comprehensive work has been done comparing all these
regions (Wijesekara, 1997).
More comprehensive work summerised by Bouček (1988), who gave keys to 5
subfamilies and 31 genera of the Australian fauna. It has been estimated that the family
includes 1464 species in 87 genera, belonging to 5 subfamilies in Australian region
(Noyes, 2001). Among these, 41 genera and 324 species are recorded from Oriental
Region (Narendran, 1989). Our study is confined to the species of Chalcididae in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa province.
The family is traditionally divided into 5 subfamilies. These include
Haltichellinae, Chalcidinae, Dirhininae, Smicromorphinae and Epitraninae (Bouček,
1988). Both Smicromorphinae and Epitraninae have only one genus (Wijeskera, 1997).
According to Bouček, (1992), the subfamily Haltichellinae comprises of 46 genera under
four tribes with Tropimeridini and Zavoyini each consisting of single genus. Tribe
Haltichellini of subfamily Haltichellinae comprises of 25 genera whereas tribe
Hybothoracini consists of 18 genera. The Chalcidinae also consists of four tribes i.e,
5
Chalcidini having 6 genera, Cratocentrini (8 genera), Phasgophorini (8 genera) and
Brachymeriini (2 genera). Subfamily Dirhininae comprises of two tribes, i.e, Dirhinini (3
genera) and Aplorhinini (1 genus) (Wijeskera, 1997).
Despite their immense importance, no comprehensive work has been conducted
on these useful wasps in Pakistan. The present study is therefore, being conducted to
record the chalcidid species their distribution and hosts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
province.
6
OBJECTIVES
1. Identification, description, seasonal occurrence and distribution of chalcidid
species occurring in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
2. Construction of key for the identification of chalcidid species in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa.
7
II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE !
Studies on this group were started when Linnaeus (1767) discovered Spex sispes
(now Chalcis sepsis). Linnaeus was followed by Fabricius (1787), who coined the name
Chalcid from which Chalcididae was derived. Latreille (1817), formally recognized the
name Chalcididae. Burks (1936), investigated the Nearctic fauna; Habu (1960), worked
on Japanese fauna; Bouček (1952, 1982, 1988), studied European, Oriental and
Australasian Chalcididae; Steffen (1974, 1976), studied Palearctic and Ethiopean fauna;
Mani (1976), worked on Indian fauna, Grissell & Schauff (1990), listed North American
fauna; and Narendran (1989), conducted studies on Chalcididae of Oriental region.
Farooqi (1976) studied male and female genitalia of 24 species belonging to eight
genera of Chalcididae. These genera include Brachymeria Westwood, Dirhinus Dalman,
Dirhinoides Masi, Chalcitella Westwood, Arretocera Kirby, Chalcis Fabricius,
Antrocphalus Kirby and Euchalcidia Masi. These genitalia have been figured and
described.
Grissell and Schauff (1981) provided a key to the 3 species of Inveria (now
Psilochalcis) and stated that many more are now known to be present.
Bouček and Narendran (1981) revised the species of Dirhinini from Indian
Subcontinent and gave a key to the identified species. All the species belong to one
genus Dirhinus Dalman with two subgenera. Four new species, i.e, claviger, deplanatus,
pilifer and altispina are described and 17 new synonyms (16 specific and one generic)
are proposed. All hosts are recorded to be Diptera, particularly syanthropic muscoid flies,
noxious fruit flies and tachinid flies. The authors also investigated geographical
distributions of the species. Among all the species, two species are found to extend from
Africa to Hawaiian Islands.
Bouček (1982) described Hockeria tamaricis as new species reared from pupae of
Amblypalpis olivierella Ragonot (Lepidoptera: Gelechidae) causing galls on several
species of Tamarix. The moth is reported from Israel, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Bouček (1988) divided the family Chalcididae into five subfamilies and tribes:
Chalcidinae (Brachymeriini, Cratocentriini, Phasganophorini and Chalcidini);
Haltichellinae (Haltichellini, Hybothoracini, Tropimeridini); Epitraninae; Dirhininae
8
(Dirhinini, Aplorhinini); and Smicromorphinae. He also summarized the more
comprehensive literature for the Old World and gave keys to 5 subfamilies and 31 genera
of the Australasian fauna. He also provided keys to the New World genera.
Narendran (1989) conducted pioneering work on the Oriental Chalcididae. In his
monograph he provided taxonomic and distributional information on 242 species. He
also described 4 new genera, 88 new species, proposed 78 new synonymies and some
new combinations.
Dindo (1990) discussed the results of some observations on the biology of
Brachymeria intermedia a polyphagous, solitary, endoparasitoid of lepidopterous pupae.
The author reared the species on substitute host, Galleria mellonella L. (Lep.
Galleriidae).
Halstead (1990) redescribed males of Acanthochalcis nigricans and A.
unispinosa. He designated voucher specimens, illustrated diagnostic characters and
presented a key to the American species. Characters to distinguish Acanthochalcis from
other Nearctic Chalcididae are presented. The taxonomic and biological information on
Acanthochalcis are summarized and new hosts, rearing and floral visitations are
recorded.
Halstead (1990a) recognized five species of Haltichella Spinola in the Nearctic
region i.e, H. onatas (Walker), H. ornaticornis Cameron, H. perpulcra (Walsh), H.
rhyacionia Gahan, and H. xanticles (Walker). Diagnostic characters are provided for both
males and females and males of each species. A neotype was designated for H.
perpulcra. The males of H. onatas, H. ornaticornis, H. perpulcra and H. xanticles were
previously undescribed; voucher specimens of each were designated. Biological and
distributional information were summarized for each species. A key to the Nearctic
species and characters to distinguish Haltichella from other Nearctic Chalcididae were
presented.
Halstead (1991) described eleven new species of Notaspidium from the Nearctic
and Neotropical regions. Notaspidium formiciforme (Walker), the only species
previously described from these regions, is redescribed and its female is described for the
first time. The taxonomic history of Notaspidium is discussed, and characters to
9
distinguish it from other New World Chalcididae are presented. The first host
information is presented for Notaspidium.
Halstead (1991a) described four new Aspirhina species from the Neotropical
region viz., A. alvarengai, A. lurca, A. decepor, and A. spinosa. Aspirhina dubitator
(Walker), the only previously described species, is re-described and its female is
described for the time. Characters are presented to distinguish Aspirhina from other
Neotropical Chalcididae.
Bouček (1992) stated that within Chalcidoidea the family Chalcididae can be
recognized by hind leg with femur characteristically swollen with one or more teeth on
its inner margin and with tibia markedly curved, prepectus very narrow, not clearly
visible, tegula oval, nearly as long as broad and body robust, about 2.5-9.0mm in length.
Gates (1993) explained self and conspecific superparasitism by solitary parasitoid
Antrocephalus pandens. He found that females of Antrocephalus pandens showed no
difference in their probability towards parasitism between self parasitized and
conspecifically parasitized hosts. He also stated that wasps switch from avoidance of
superparasitism when alone to acceptance of all the hosts when grouped.
Ubaidillah (1996) described Brachymeria eucarpae from Malaysia. This species
was reared from an important pest of cocoa pods, the cocoa husk borer, Cryptophlebia
encarpa (Meyrick), and may be of potential use as a biological control agent.
Delvare (1996) illustrated Conura initia, a common species in tropical America
(Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru). A key was prepared to recognize it
from the closest species found in the Neotropical region.
Yang et al., (1997) described two new species of Chalcididae collected in the
Funiushan Mountain, Henan Province, i.e. Trigonura chrysobathra Yang and Chirocera
glauca Yang. The two species were new records for China. The former parasitizes larva
of Chrysobathris on the tree Cyclobalanopsis sp. The latter's host was uncertain.
Liu (2002) reported species of genus Lasiochalcidia Masi from China. Two new
species were described and illustrated: L. gracilantenna, L. rufipolita and L. pilosella
(Cameron) were newly recorded from China.
Sheela et al., (2003) provided a literature review of the work done on Chalcididae.
They praised Ashmead (1904) for the monumental work on the classification of
10
Chalcidoidea. Contribution to the knowledge of Indian Chalcididae have been made by
Waterston (1922), Masi (1927, 1929), Gahan (1930, 1942), Mani (1935, 1938), Bouček
(1952), Mani and his students (1972, 1974), Joseph et al., (1973), Narendran (1976,
1984), Bouček & Narendran (1981), Bouček (1982), and Husain & Agarwal (1981,
1982).
Narendran (2003) described 2 new genera and 2 new species of Oriental
Chalcididae, viz., Neokopinata sawarka and Heydoniella sarawakensis from Sarawak
(Borneo). He also discussed their affinities with the taxonomically closest relatives.
Narendran and Sudheer (2005) described and illustrated 2 new species of
Antrocephalus Kirby viz., A. samoaensis from Samao and A. jayensis from Irian Jaya
Indonesia. Narendran and Sudheer (2005b) described 2 more new species of Hockeria
Walker, viz., H. wibawai from Indonesia and H. thailandica from Thailand.
Gibson et al., (2006) reared 13 species in 5 subfamilies of Chalcididae from
seedpods of Brassica napus L. (Brassicaceae) as pupal parasitoids of the cabbage
seedpod weevil, Ceutorhynchus obstrictus (Marsham) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in
Georgia, USA. The species was Conura torvina (Cresson).
Liu (2008) conducted some studies on Chinese Chalcididae. He described
Proconura eurygena as new species. He also recorded P. caryobori (Hanna), P. asiatica
Narendran and P. ishii (Habu) for the Chinese fauna and provided a key to known
Chinese species of Proconura.
Yasodha and Nataranjan (2009) studied the presence of different parasitoids and
pathogens on brinjal fruit borer, Leucinodes orbanalis. They found 12 parasitoids
belonging to 2 superfamilies i.e, Ichneumonidae and Chalcidoidea. Among Chalcidoidea,
two species belonging to family Chalcidiae i.e, Antrocephalus mitys Walker and
Brachymeria lasus Walker were found to be parasitoids of Leucinodes orbanalis.
Hanumanthaswamy et al., (2009) found that among other natural enemies,
Antrocephalus galleriae Subbarao was the chalcidid parasitoid, which controlled the
population of greater wax moth Galleria mellonella Linnaeus on honeybees.
Gupta (2010) recorded Brachymeria jambolana as pupal parasitoids of Graphium
doson (C. & R. Felder) (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) from Banglore, Karnataka. She
reported this species as first record on the host for the first time from that particular area.
11
She also provided the distribution and diagonastic characters of the parasitoid. Different
stages of host are also explained.
Sujatha and Sunitha (2011) reported that Mango fruit borer (Deanolis albizonalis
(Hampson)) has become a major threat to mango crop in Andhra Pardesh coastal area of
Southern India. They conducted a survey from severly-infested areas of mango fruit
borer. They collected few hymenopteran parasitoids of pupae and prepupae of mango
fruit borer from the trunk region of mango trees. The parasitoids collected were
Brachymeria lasus (Walker), B. apicicornis (Cameron) and Oxycoryphe sp.
Saeidi (2011) conducted a research on natural enemies of gypsy moth, Lymantria
dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymentariidae) in Yasooj, Iran. Among other natural enemies,
he found Brachymeria intermedia Nees as a parasitoid associated with the parasitism of
gypsy moth. He suggested its application after confirmation of its effectiveness, on wider
scale for the control of this pest in Yasooj area of Iran.
Delvare et al., (2011) described three new species i.e, Brachymeria ceratoniae
Delvare, Proconura persica Delvare and Psilochalcis ceratoniae Delvare from Iran.
They reared them from carob moth Apomyelois ceratoniae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae),
which is the main pest of Ceratonia siliqua. They formally transferred Inveria subita
Niolskaya, 1960 to the genus Psilochalcis. The authors provided information on
distinguishing features, systematic position, comparison with other species, distribution,
host and pictures of the important characters. Lectotype is designated for Brachymeria
confalonierii Masi, 1929.
Zache et al., (2012) reported for the first time from Brazil, about Brachymeria
pandora (Crawford) parasitizing the pupae of eucalyptus defoliator (Thrintenia
leucocerae) (Rindge) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae).
Tinoco et al., (2012) found Brachymeria spp. to be parasitoids of pupae of oil
palm pests belonging to the families Hesperidae and Nymphalidae (Lepidoptera) in the
Brazilian Amazonian region.
Chavan and Kumar (2012) recorded parasitoids of Karanj defoliator (Glyphodes
negatalis Walker) in South Gujarat, India. He could not identify the species of
Brachymeria but has found this genus to be pupal parasitoid of the host Glyphodes
negatalis.
12
Tikader (2012) recorded Brachymeria tibialis (Walker) on wild silkworm Cricula
trifenestrata (Helfer) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) from India. The parasitoid damages and
eats the pupae inside the cocoon, which restricts the future population of the pest.
Barbuceanu and Andriescu (2012) tested the parasitic beha vior and success ratio
of Brachymeria tibialis against Sparganothis pilleriana (Denis & Schiffermuller)
(Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in the vineyards of Southern Romania. They concluded that B.
tibialis had substantial performance against the pest in the fields. They found that males
flew first and longevity for the females was 2-12 weeks with sex ratio of 0.64%. They
also found B. intermedia as secondary parasitoid from the pupae of Diadegma spp. This
relationship was observed for the first time.
Lotfalizadeh et al., (2012) recorded 15 species under four genera new to the
Iranian Chalcididae. The population of Chalcidids in the area is represented by three
subfamilies, i.e, Dirhininae, Chalcidinae and Haltichellinae with 2, 16 and 24 species
respectively. They also synonimised genus Varzobia Nikol’skaya with Tanycoryphus
Cameron and the type species transferred to that genus is Tanycoryphus tibialis
(Nikol’skaya, 1960). Species Lasiochalcidia indescripta (Bouček 1952) is removed from
synonymy with L. guineensis (Steffan, 1951d). They also restored Peltochalcidia
ferrierei, which is being removed from the junior synonymy with P. benoisti Steffan and
synonymised under the genus Psilochalcis Kieffer. Species Peltochalcidia oranensis
(Bouček 1952) is synonymised with P. benoisti. They also provided complementary
information on the biology, morphology and distribution of the species and also
presented preliminary list of Iranian chalcidid species.
Apiwathnasorn (2012) studied parasitoids of filth flies in Thailand. He reared
approximately 16,000 pupal specimens of flies from municipal garbage comprising of
Musca domestica (Linnaeus) and Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius). Fourteen species
of parasitoids were reported to be parasitoids of filth flies in Thailand. The parasitoids
belong to 2 orders i.e Coleoptera (1 species) and Hymenoptera (13 species). Among
Hymenoptera, 3 species of Chalcididae i.e, Brachymeria minuta (Linnaeus), Dirhinus
crythocerus Cameron and D. excavates Dalman were reported to be parasitoids of filth
flies.
13
Kazemi and Lotfalizadeh (2014) have reported Hockeria magna Bouček as a new
record for the fauna of Iranian Chalcididae. The species was collected in the East
Azarbaijan province during summer season with the help of Malaise Trap. They also
provided the list of the known species of genus Hockeria from Iran.
Marchiori (2014) studied the hymenopterous parasitoid population collected from
Southern Goias and Western Minas Gerias, Brazil. He applied yellow cup traps and
Malaise trap for collecting Hymenoptera population. Among his collection, he collected
37 and 94 specimens respectively from yellow buckets at both locaitions. Similarly he
collected 432 and 904 specimens from Malaise trap in both these locations of Brazil.
Thus both methods were effective for Hymenoptera collection.
Work Done in Pakistan
Taxonomic work on Chalcididae of Pakistan never started properly and was given
very less importance. Some taxonomists like Khokhar et al., (1971), Samad et al., (1971),
Rafi et al., (1987), Ahmed et al., (1987), Sheikh et al., (1987) and Ishrat & Mailk (1986)
initiated taxonomic work on Chalcididae in Pakistan. They have described few species of
Brachymeria from Sind province. Noyes (2014) reported 29 species from Pakistan.
Irshad (2003) reported four genera from Pakistan with 14 species. Out of the four, three
genera with six species are from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Recently Iqbal et al., (2013),
reported 3 species of genus Hockeria from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa area. No comprehensive
work on chalcidid fauna has been conducted for any part of Pakistan. The present work is
first study on chalcidid fauna and is confined to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of
Pakistan.
The key constructed for the identification of genera and species of Chalcididae of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan is the first key for the region. Based on 200 specimen
collected during 1998-2014, it was found that Chalcididae species are very rare and can
only be found in a specific period of time at particular places. 2 or 3 specimens represent
majority of the genera. Wide areas were surveyed for collection and it was revealed that
Chalcididae are found in plan areas rather than hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
No comprehensive and formal studies on the systematic of Chalcididae have so
far been conducted for Pakistan. Few scattered information is available on host records
14
and taxonomy of Chalcididae. Majority of the taxonomic work is done in Karachi
University. Khokar et al., (1971) described Brachymeria bicolorata as pupal parasite of
Earias species on cotton from Sind. Samad et al., (1971) recorded Brachymeria ocellata
as pupal parasite of fruit fly Dacus ferruginius in Karachi. Sheikh et al., (1987) described
two new species including Brachymeria alba and B. mandiblata from Sind province.
They also reported B. truncata as newly recorded species from Pakistan. Rafi et al.,
(1987) described two new species viz., Brachymeria dentata and Brachymeria kafimu
from Sind province. They reared these species from cotton bollworm. They also recorded
Brachymeria incerta (Cresson) from cotton bollworm in Sind. Ishrat and Malik (1987)
described three new species as genus Brachymeria from Sind Province. The new species
include B. sindhensis, B. qadeeri and B. karachiensis. Ahmed et al., (1987) described two
new species from Sind. The new species were Brachymeria mutidentata and
Brachymeria oblique. Narendran (1989) reported some species of Chalcididae from
Pakistan. Noyes (2014) in his catalogue reported 29 species in 7 genera from Pakistan.
He provided distributional, taxonomic and biological information on most of the species.
Irshad (2003) provided host records and distribution of fourteen species from Pakistan.
Out of the 14 species 6 were from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Recently Iqbal et al.,
(2013) reported 3 more species from the province raising the number of reported species
to 9 from the province.
Published information reveals that so far 29 species have been recorded from all
over Pakistan out of which only six species have been discovered in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa. This number is too less when compared with neighboring countries. The
reason is incomplete surveys, poor collection and no taxonomic studies. The current
research is a step forward in this direction.
15
III. MATERIALS AND METHODS
1. Collection and preservation of Chalcidids
The study is based on the Chalcididae specimens collected from different
ecological zones including Northern areas and plain areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The
main areas during the first year were Peshawar, Mardan, Tank, Karak, D.I. Khan, Swabi,
Dir, Swat, Chitral and Hazara Division. The majority of the specimens were collected by
sweep net. Sweeping was employed in habitats where there was much chance of
capturing Chalcididae, such places are tall grasses and small bushes. Chalcididae were
sorted from the collected material
In addition to sweepnet, malaise traps were operated in different ecological zones
of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is a passive way of collection and proved good method for
collection of Chalcididae. Ethyl alcohol was changed every week and Chalcididae were
sorted from the collected material (when present).
Rearing of potential hosts was also done. Species of Chalcididae are parasitoids
of Lepidoptera, Diptera and Coleoptera; therefore larvae of these orders were reared in
the laboratory for the emergence of parasitoids. Additionally, specimens present in the
Insect collection at the Department of Entomology, The University of Agriculture,
Peshawar were also examined during the taxonomic study.
The freshly collected chalcidid specimens were preserved in 70% alcohol for
preventing them from damage on drying. The chalcidid wasps are safe in the alcohol.
Also specimens were put in 97% alcohol for 5 hours before mounting on card point.
All the Chalcididae are too small to pin, specimens were therefore mounted on
card points. The card point was pinned through the base, and the insects were glued to tip
of the point. Every specimen was labeled with; (a) locality (b) collection date (c)
collectors name (d) host (if any). All the mounted specimens were kept in wooden
collection boxes. To protect the specimens from museum pest attack, naphthalene balls
were placed in collection boxes.
16
2. Identification
Specimens were identified with the help of keys and descriptions in the literature.
Identification was carried out using the literature; Akinobu Habu (1960, 1962),
Medvedev, (English translation (1985)), Zdenek Bouček (1988), Narendran (1989),
Grissel and Schauff (1990), Bouček & Delvare (1992), and Gibson et al., (1997).
Some species were identified by comparison with already identified specimens at our
lab and at Bohart Museum of Entomology, Univsersity of California, Davis, USA.
3. Descriptions and Illustrations
Descriptions have been prepared from the most observable characters. The
Comstock Needham system of wing vein nomenclature is employed. Terminology of
surface sculpture is that of Harris (1979). An ocular micrometer was used for
measurement of different parts of the specimen. Body length was measured from the
anterior head margin to the posterior end of the metasoma along the mid dorsal line with
the help of digital camera fitted to the microscope after calibration. For completeness,
more than one specimen was measured (when available) and average measurement was
calculated for each taxon. Photographs were taken with Nikon SMZ 745T and Leica MZ
75 in layers with mounted cameras. Layers of pictures were combined to make it one
image through Helicon Focus software. Adobe Illustrator (version 6) was used for
making necessary changes in the pictures. Line drawings were also made with the help of
Camera Lucida. Line drawings and pictures are provided at the end of thesis. Synonymy
and diagnostic characters are given for each taxon.
4. Keys to Different Taxa
Keys are constructed from easily observeable characters on each specimen. One Key
to subfamilies, tribes and genera is provided for the available specimen. Separate key to
the species of each genus is provided depending upon the number of species in each
genus.
17
5. Repository
The entire material is deposited in the Entomological Collection, Department
of Entomology, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar.
6. Terminology and Abbreviations
The following Terminology and abbreviations have been used in the
document:
T1: Abdominal segment 1
T2-3: Abdominal segment 2-3
Mesosoma: The thoracic region of Hymenoptera. In suborder Apocrita the first
abdominal segment is attached to thorax making the thorax four segmented. The
fourth segment is called propodeum. Due to four-segmented thoracic region it is
called Mesosoma instead of thorax.
Metasoma: The abdominal region of Hymenoptera. In suborder Apocrita the first
abdominal segment is attached to thorax. The abdominal region is therefore minus
one segment and therefore called Metasoma instead of abdomen.
Accessorial carinae: These carinae run between the submedian and sublateral
cariane present on propodeum.
Auricular carina: Carinae that starts from base of compound eye and runs towards
the base of clypeus.
Genotemporal furrow: Furrow present on lateral sides of the gena near the temporal
margin.
Preorbital carina: Carina present on inner margin of the eye
Postorbital carina: Carina present below the compound eye, moving horizontally
towards the temporal margins of the eye.
Scrob: Space between two compound eyes, just below the scape of antennae
Scrobal depression: Depression present between the compound eyes, just below the
antennal scape.
BMNH: British Museum (Natural History) London, U.K.
ECUAP: Entomological Collection, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar.
ZDAMU: Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India.
18
USNM: United States National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C.,
U.S.A.
BSRI: Biosystematic Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
MNHN: Museum National D΄ Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
NIAS: National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Nishigahara, Tokyo, Japan
DZCU: Department of Zoology, Calicut University, India
UZM: Universitets Zoologiska Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark
ZMMS: Zoological Museum Moscow State University
NRS: Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet, Stocholm, Sweden.
OOL: Ocello-Ocular Length
POL: Posterior Ocellar Length
KPK: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
19
IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Distinguishing characters of Chalcididae
Adult
The species of chalcidids are generally robust, with enlarged hind femora and
arched tibiae. Colors range from black (sometimes with white or yellow marks) to
yellow. The head and mesosoma are heavily sclerotized, usually coarsely punctate at
least in part. The head dorsally sometimes has a projection (horn) between the scrobal
depression and each eye. The gena is carinate or ridged. Antennae are inserted below or
above the level of ventral eye margin. The pronotum has a quadrate to transverse
subrectangular collar (posterior margin often conspicuously curved inward) or rarely
almost linear in dorsal view, but with lateral margin straight and not extending to the
tegula. The prepectus is small, often difficult to distinguish. The mesopleuron has a
shallow femoral depression over most of its height. Chalcidids are fully winged, with the
forewing not folded lengthwise and with venation sometimes reduced to oblong spot at
the apex of the submarginal vein, but usually with marginal and stigmal veins distinct,
the marginal vein usually longer than the stigmal. The postmarginal vein may be present
or absent. Tarsi are 5 segmented. The metacoxa is long and in cross section subcircular to
very large and subtriangular. The metafemur is large, compressed, and ventrally serrated
or dentate over at least the apical 1/3rd. The metatibia is usually distinctly curved, either
truncate with 2 apical spurs or obliquely pointed with 1 spur or none. The metasoma has
either a transverse or long and slender petiole that is rarely inserted high on the
propodeum adjacent to the metanotum or longitudinally carinate. The ovipositor sheath
protrudes only slightly (Gibson 1993).
The present study revealed that species of Chalcididae of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
range in size from 1mm to 8.5mm in length. Majority is black in color. Some are black
with yellow and reddish-brown spots. They have enlarged hind femora having variation
in teeth on its ventral edge, which are of special taxonomic significance. In few species
tooth shaped structure is also present on the apex or base of femur. Carina is present on
ventral edge of tibia, which is a distinguishing character for species identification.
Thorax is heavily punctured and a very small prepectus is present. Gena and wing
20
venation are also variable also among different species. Scutellum, either rounded uni or
bihorned in different genera. Wings have single vein, which is subdivided into
submarginal, marginal, post marginal and stigmal vein. Antennae up to 13 segments,
sometimes hairy with 1 or 2 ring segments and with club segments not significantly
different from the funicle. Compound eyes may or may not have ocular and subocular
carina.
Family Chalcididae is traditionally divided into five subfamilies including
Haltichellinae, Chalcidinae, Epitraninae, Dirhininae and Phasgophorinae.
In the present study members of four subfamilies have been discovered. These
subfamilies are subdivided into tribes i.e, subfamily Haltichellinae which comprises of
tribe Haltichellinii and Hybothoracini, Chalcidinae comprising of Chalcidini and
Brachymerini, Dirhininae comprising of only one tribe Dirhinini and Epitraninae is
without any tribe.!
Key to the identification of the above subfamilies, tribes and genera is presented
below.
21
KEY TO GENERA OF CHALCIDIDAE IN KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA,
PAKISTAN
1. Metatibia tapering apically into strong spine extending far beyond insertion of
tarsus (Fig. 1 & 9), usually with one (often inconspicuous) spur between tips of
spine and tarsus; hind femur ventrally either with long comb of teeth or with small
or large gaps between the teeth …..……………………………………………... 2
1`. Metatibia with apex truncated almost perpendicularly or slightly sinuate, with 2
apical spurs (Fig. 2-8); ventrally hind femur with a dense comb (mostly on lobes)
of short or long denticles; Haltichellinae …………………………….………...... 5
2. Abdomen compressed and petiole bulging ventrally (Fig. 10); petiole slender,
striate and longer than half of abdomen (Fig. 11); antennae inserted just above the
clypeus; antennal scrobe obsolescent (Fig. 18); fore wing with marginal vein very
long, post marginal vein absent and stigma rudimentary (Fig. 26); Epitraninae
………………………………………………….....…...…..….. Epitranus Walker.
2`. Abdomen completely different from above, petiole either invisible or much
shorter then not longitudinally striate; other characters also different; Chalcidinae
………………………………………………………………..………………...… 3
3. Length of petiole distinctly longer than wide (Fig. 9); propodeal spiracle vertically
elongate (Fig. 42); postmarginal vein several times longer than stigmal vein (Fig.
27); Chalcidini ……....………………………………………… Chalcis Fabricius.
3`. Length of petiole much broader than long, mostly concealed in dorsal view;
propodeal spiracles elongate in oblique sub horizontal direction; postmarginal
vein variable .………………………………………………………………..…… 4
4. Postmarginal vein often longer than stigmal vein (Fig. 28); malar suture between
distinct, usually indicated by a carina (Fig. 19); Brachymerini
………………………………………………………...… Brachymeria Westwood
4`. Postmarginal and stigma veins rudimentary, marginal vein of forewing unusually
long (Fig. 29); upper part of head produced into 2 strong horn shaped structures
(Fig. 12); T1 longer than other segments, with longitudinal striations anteriorly
22
(Fig. 12), petiole with longitudinal ridges (Fig. 12); metafemur with a row of
small arched ventrally teeth; Dirhininae …………..……….….. Dirhinus Dalman
5. Forewing with marginal vein at the wing margin, postmarginal vein present,
stigmal vein distinctly developed (Figs. 30 & 31); mesosoma mostly dull with
narrow interspaces of punctures; flagellum usually with short setae; Haltichellinii
……….…………………………………………………………………………… 6
5`. Forewing with short marginal vein separated from the anterior margin, post
marginal vein absent (Figs. 32 - 34); mesosoma often shiny with broad
interspaces, rarely dull and densely punctured; in female the flagellum usually
bare but in male rarely slightly setose; Hybothoracini…...……………………… 9
6. Metafemur with prominent dent on ventral margin followed by comb of teeth
(Figs. 2 & 7); T1 without longitudinal carina basally, often with micro sculptures
(Fig. 20); antennal toruli present slightly above the clypeus (Fig. 20); apex of
scutellum without large teeth, usually with two short dents but occasionally entire
or rounded ..…………………………………………………….. Neochalcis Kirby
6`. Metafemur without dent on ventral margin; scutellum usually emarginate, with
prominent teeth; other various …………………………………….…………..… 7
7. Frons with strong horse-shoe shaped preorbital carina, joining behind the median
ocellus along inner margins of eyes (Figs. 38) ….………………………….…… 8
7`. Frons without horse-shoe shaped preorbital carina or preorbital carina weak but
not reaching median ocellus (Figs. 21 & 22); scrobal depression smaller and
rather shallow, not reaching the median ocellus (Figs. 21 & 22); T1 without carina
at the base (Fig.14); pronotum with anterolateral carina not ascending to dorsal
surface, dorsomedian surface rounded (Figs. 35, 39, 40); metafemur mostly with 2
denticulate lobes, hind tibia without additional carina (Fig. 3) ……………………
……..……………………..............................................…….… Hockeria Walker
8. Head with large scrobal depression delimited laterally by strong preorbital carinae
which unite dorsally behind median ocellus in a horse shoe shape (Figs. 23 & 38);
metafemur uni or bilobed (Fig. 8); pronotum regularly convex; anterior pronotal
carina usually with paired strong or weak tubercles medially, forewing hyaline,
with short stigmal vein (Fig. 30) ……………………..…… Antrocephalus Kirby
23
8`. Head with scrobal depression shallow than above, preorbital carina on inner
margin of eye present but may or may not unite behind median ocellus (Figs. 24,
25, 36 & 41); metafemur ventrally trilobed (Fig. 4); pronotum with anterior
pronotal carina restricted to sides only (Fig. 36 & 41); forewing with post
marginal vein longer than marginal vein, stigmal vein with brown patch may or
may not be present (Fig. 31) …………………….. Kriechbaumerella Dalla Torre
9. Propodeum with posterolateral angles extending backwards like horns (Fig. 43);
fore wing with marginal vein slightly removed from wing margin, postmarginal
vein absent, stigmal vein reduced in to a stub, (Fig. 32); strong anterior pronotal
carinae coming up to the middle where it becomes weak (Fig. 37); T1 with pair of
carina at anterior margin running perpendicular to the propodeum (Fig. 15)
……………………………………………….…….. Neohybothorax Nikol’skaya
9`. Propodeum rounded or truncated without posterolateral angles extending
backwards ………………………………….…………………………………... 10
10. Metafemur with large basal tooth (Fig. 5); T1 with posterior margin arcuate,
weakly or strongly shagreened (Fig. 13); forewing with narrow premarginal vein,
and short stigmal vein (Fig. 33); apex of scutellum weakly or entirely jetting over
the propodeum (Fig. 13); ……………………………………. Psilochalcis Kieffer
10`. Metafemur without basal tooth (Fig. 6); T1 with 2 distinct carinae, delimiting the
basal fovea on sides (Fig. 17); forewing with premarginal vein thick and stigmal
vein distinct (Fig. 34); basal 2 flagellomeres light brown in color, rest dark brown
..................................................................................... Proconura Dodd & Girault
24
Subfamily Haltichellinae
Diagnosis: Haltichellinae can be recognized by the head which is usually wider than the
thorax, without horns on frons dorsally; antennae inserted below ventral eye margin;
preorbital carina along eye margins distinct, except in Hockeria Walker; frons flat; with
scrobe forming deep depression with indistinct margins; marginal vein touching wing
margin; apex of outer ventral edge of hind femur densely pectinate with small teeth; apex
of tibia truncate with 2 apical spurs; a short petiole present (Yoshimoto, 1984).
Species of Haltichellinae mostly parasitize lepidopterous pupae. A few species are
known to attack solitary bees which nest in hollow twigs, the larvae of ant lions, and
coleopterous larvae or pupae (Grissell and Goodpasture, 1981).
In our study, Haltichellinae is represented by two tribes i.e, Haltichellini and
Hybothoracini. Haltichellinae is further divided into four genera: Antrocephalus,
Hockeria, Kriechbaumerella and Neochalcis. Hybothoracini is subdivided into three
genera i.e, Psilochalcis, Procunura and Neohybothorax.Hence this subfamily is the most
diverse among all the collection from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Tribe Haltichellini
The tribe differs from Hybothoricini by having apex of hind tibia almost perpendicularly
truncate and with two apical spurs, rarely ventral corner forming a spine, punctation of
head and thorax almost always very dense, antennae with dense but short pubescence.
25
1. Genus Antrocephalus Kirby, 1883
(Figs. 8 - 18)
Genotype: Haltichella fascicornis Walker (Original designation)
Antrocephalus Kirby (1883). Journ. Linn. Soc. London, Zool. 17:54, 63.
Dilla Strand (1911). Arch. Naturges. 77; 210.
Genotype: Antrocephalus rufipes Kieffer.
Sabatiella Masi (1929). Boll. Lab. Ent. Bologna 2:167-168.
Genotype: Sabatiella nigra Masi.
Dillisca Ghesquiere (1946). Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. 39:367.
The known synonyms of Antrocephalus are: Coelochalcis Cameron (1904);
Stomatoceroides Girault (1913a), Metarretocera Girault (1927), Tainania Masi (1929a),
Sabatiella Masi (1929b), Stomatocerella Girault (1930), Uxa Girault (1930), Dillisca
Ghesquiere (1946) and Uda Girault (1930).
This genus is perhaps the most difficult one among Chalcididae to study
taxonomically. Bouček (1988) has discussed in detail the variation as well as the various
synonymies involved in this genus. Members of this genus can be recognized by
combination of the following characters: presence or absence of a distinct glabrous
temporal furrow behind the eyes; development of lateral carinae on the pronotum, either
stout or nearly joining themselves in the proximity of the apical margin of prothorax;
presence or absence of a longitudinal furrow on the scutellum; presence or absence of
two parallel carinae at the base of T1, metafemur without lobes or uni-, bi- or trilobed;
metacoxae with or without an inner basal tooth and presence or absence of external carina
on metatibia.
The members of this genus are parasitic on Lepidoptera. Species of the genus are
found in Asia, Europe; Australia and South America (Bouček, 1988). Published records
show Apis cerana, Ceratovacuna lanigera, Contheyla rotunda, Corcyra cephalonica,
Cydia pomonella, Dactylethrella candida, Grapholita molesta, Hapalia machaeralis,
Homona coffearia, lasiocampid, Pimpla albipalpis, Siriocauta testulalis and Sitotroga
cerealella as the hosts of genus Antrocephalus (Noyes, 2014).
26
Genus Antrocephalus Kirby has been identified as a new genus not only for the
record of parasitic Hymenoptera in Pakistan but it also adds 2 species to the records of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in our current studies. Key to Antrocephalus species is provided as
under, illustrations of important characters are also provided with the key.
Key to the species of genus Antrocephalus in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
1. Fore wing with postmarginal vein subequal to or shorter than marginal vein, never
longer than marginal vein (Fig. 2); propodeum with distinct lateral teeth (Fig. 5);
metafemur with an inner basal tooth; legs rufous; abdomen rufous or blackish.
………………………………………………………………….… mitys (Walker)
-. Forewing with postmarginal vein longer than marginal vein (Fig.7); propodeum
without lateral teeth (Fig. 8) ; metafemur without an inner basal tooth; legs rusty
brown; abdomen shining black ………………………..……… nicus Narendran
1.1. Antrocephalus mitys (Walker, 1846a)
(Figs. 8 - 14)
Haltichella mitys Walker 1846a. Part 1, Chalcidites: 81, ♀, Mauritius (BMNH).
Chalcis pandens Walker 1860. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 6:357, ♀, Sri Lanka, (BMNH)
Narendran.
Haltichella simplex Walker (1862).
Haltichella divisicornis Walker (1871).
Stomatocera sulcata Ashmead 1905. Proc. US. Natn. Mues. xxiii: 401. ♂. Phillipines,
Manila, (USNM No. 8954), Narendran.
Antrocephalus mahensis Masi (1917).
Stomatocera bergeraci Girault (1921).
Antrocephalus humilis Waterson 1922. Ind. For. Rec. 9: 22. ♀. India, Dehra Dun
(BMNH), Narendran.
Antrocephalus aetiopicus Masi (1926).
Antrocephalus vitatus Husain & Agarwal 1982. Oriental Ins. 16:327. ♀. India, Aligarh,
(ZDAMU) Narendran.
27
More details about synonymy and biology of genus Antrocephalus are provided by
Bouček (1992) in his book Australasian Chalcidoidea.
Diagnosis: The species can be differentiated from other species of the genus by the
presence of longitudinal furrow in the scutellum forming two apical tubercles (Fig. 8);
forewing with a brown spot under marginal and stigma vein, not under the postmarginal
vein (Fig. 9); presence of pre- and postorbital carina (Fig. 10) and distinct and carinate
frontogenal sulcus (Fig. 10). Metafemur with an inner basal tooth and a series of small
teeth in one or two lobes (Fig. 13).
Description of the Female: (n = 6)
Length: 5.2 - 6.8mm
Colour: Predominantly black; head, thorax and propodeum completely black with
narrow punctation and silvery pubescence; abdomen liver brown to blackish brown;
tegulae dark brown; eyes rusty brown; antennae, fore-, mid- and metacoxae, trochanters,
femora and tibiae dark brown with apices of tibia light brown; anteriorly metatibia
blackish with carina; forewings with slightly brownish tinge and a slight brown below the
marginal and stigmal vein; underside of abdomen light brown; antennal club and
interantennal projection rusty brown.
Head: slightly broader than thorax; OOL 3x POL (Fig. 15); preorbital carina reaching
behind the anterior ocellus (Fig. 15) and meets the auricular carina at the base (Fig. 10);
scrobe and scape reaching the anterior ocellus; genotemporal margin with a deep groove
(Fig. 11); pre- and postorbital carina present (Fig. 10); frontogenal carina carinate and
distinct; antennae just above the clypeus (Fig. 10); antennal scape reaching the anterior
ocellus, the length of which is equal to first 5 funicular segments of the antennae.
Mesosoma: slightly narrower than head (Fig. 15); anterior margin of pronotum with
distinct carina but these carinae do not form a tubercle when meet in the middle;
scutellum with a furrow starting from anterior margin and reaching the posterior margin
forming two slightly upturned tubercles at the apex of scutellum (Fig. 8); propodeum
(Fig. 12) without a median carina, submedian carinae distinct with small cross carinae
between them; accessorial carina distinctly forming a raised point of attachment with
28
several cross carinae to the submedian carinae, sublateral carina meeting with lateral
costae at anterior end and joins the lower part of propodeum; semi horizontal spiracles
present between the sublateral carinae and the lateral costae (Fig. 12); forewing with
marginal vein slightly shorter then postmarginal vein, stigmal vein with distinct uncus
(Fig. 9); tarsi 5 segmented in fore, mid and hindleg, both fore and midfemur swollen
distally.
Metasoma: longer than thorax, pointed posteriorly; base of metasoma with a small fovea
between two very small ridges and without carina; T1 larger in size than combined length
of T2-T5.
Male: (n = 3). Males are similar to the female except the abdominal tip rounded in males.
Material Examined
Type material Examined: India. Cherangodhe, Nilgiri Hills, 3500ft 1 ♀. 1987. P. S.
Nathan Collection. Pakistan. KPK. Peshawar. 1♀. 34° 1.3΄N, 71° 28.5΄E. 12.iv.2009.
Inayatullah. 1♀, 1♂. 1.v.2008. Inayatullah. 1♀, 2♂. 19.xi.2007. Inayatullah. 1♀.
18.viii.2008. Toheed. Swabi. 1♀. 34° 1.3΄N, 71° 28.5΄E. 20.viii.2004. Inayatullah.
Distribution: Australia (Queensland), Afrotropical, Brazil, India (Kerala, Tripura, Uttar
Pardesh), Israel, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Phillipines, Senegal, Sychelles, Sierra
Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Thailand (Noyes, 2014) and Pakistan (Peshawar & Swabi,
New Record).
Host: Lepidoptera: Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) (Pyralidae), Lamida moncusalis
Walker (Pyralidae), Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Crambidae), Ectomyelois ceratoniae
(Zeller) (Pyralidae) (Noyes, 2014) and Ephestia cautella (Walker) (Pyralidae) (Pereira et
al., 2013)
Yponomeutidae: Ypsolophus ocrophane. (Noyes, 2014)
Plant Associates: Family Fabaceae: Arachis hypogaea, Ceratonia siliqua, Pisum
sativum. Family Poaceae: Oryza sativa, Sorghum sp. Zea mays (Noyes, 2014).
Comments: The species can be recognized the combination of characters i.e, by having a
longitudinal furrow in the scutellum forming two apical tubercles; forewing with a brown
spot under marginal and stigma vein, not under the postmarginal vein; pre- and
29
postorbital carina present; frontogenal sulcus distinct and carinate; metafemur with an
inner basal tooth and a series of small teeth in one or two lobes. According to Narendran
(1989), T1 with basal carinae on both sides of the median fovea.
In our specimens, there is a small median fovea between two lateral ridges, but without
any carina, remaining characters meet his description. Moreover, paratypes of A. mitys
present at Bohart Museum of Entomology, University of California, Davis, USA were
also examined and compared with Narendran’s description and our specimen. Current
description adds smore to Narendran’s description. Distribution record shows that it is
worldwide-distributed species. The species were collected during different months of the
year from ecologically different areas, which show the diversity of the species. Host
record also shows that the species is restricted to only one lepidopterous family,
Pyralidae. Konishi et al., (2004) reported five species of Chalcididae from rice stores in
Thailand. Procunura minusa Narendran was the dominant species and was considered to
be an important parasitoid of Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier). On Corcyra cephalonica
(Stainton), they found Proconura caryobori and Antrocephalus mitys (Walker) as a
parasitoid. A. mitys was not considered to be an important parasitoid of C. cephalonica
because of its low population. They also described newly introduced species i.e,
Notaspediella clavata Narendran & Konishi and N. thailandicum Narendran & Konishi.
Pereira et al., (2013) reared A. mitys from pupae of Ephestia cautella (Lepidoptera:
Pyralidae), which is a cosmopolitan stored grain pest. They suggested that A. mitys is
adapted to artificial environments and has the potential to be deployed as biological
control agents in stored grain facilities. Based on these findings are the efficacy of this
species needs testing against stored grain pests of family Pyralidae and other related
stored grain pests for effective biological control of the pests in Pakistan. No host from
other families has been reported till date. Research needs to be done to find out the host
range of this species. Specimens in current research were collected from the grasses and
alfalfa fields during spring season, which shows that these parasitoids attack their hosts
only in a specific time of the year. Synonymy of the species shows that it has characters
similar to genus Haltichella, Chalcis and Stomatocera, as it is several times reported
under these genera.
30
1.2. Antrocephalus nicus Narendran, 1989
(Figs. 7-10)
Diagnosis: metanotum convex, without longitudinal furrow (Fig. 17); forewing without
any brown patch below the marginal or post marginal vein, however wings have brown
tinge (Fig. 15); preorbital carina narrowly meets auricular carina, postorbital carina
absent (Fig. 18); frontogenal sulcus distinct in lower half, apical half indistinct (Fig. 18);
basal 2 flagellomeres rusty brown, remaining liver brown.
Description of the Female: (n = 10)
Length: 4.7 – 6.6 mm
Colour: Predominantly Black. Head and thorax dull black; with small impunctations and
gaps between the impunctations; tegulae rust brown, abdomen shining black dorsally;
eyes pale yellow blackish; all legs rust brown, basal segments of antennae rust brown,
apical 7 segments dark brown; forewing with brownish tinge and dark brown marginal
and postmarginal vein; coxa, trochanter, femur, and tibia of fore leg, middle and hind leg
rust brown, tarsi light brown; propodeum with long silver pubescence on the lower side.
Head: Head slightly wider than long; scrobe and scape reaching the front ocellus
(Fig.18), POL almost 4x the OOL; vertex slightly depressed in middle when viewed from
front; preorbital carina narrowly meets the auricular carina; post orbital carina absent
(Fig.18); frontogenal sulcus distinct in lower half, apical half indistinct; genotemporal
furrow shallow; scape length almost equal to the combined length of pedicel and 3 basal
flagellar segments; length of club 2.3x the proceeding segment; antennal toruli just above
the clypeus (Fig. 18).
Mesosoma: Thorax convex, with close pits on the dorsum (Fig. 17), interstices narrow,
rugose and carinate; prothorax with lateral carina reaching the middle and meets in the
center forming two carinae moving towards head; scutellum jetting over the propodeum;
post marginal vein 1.25x marginal vein, marginal and post marginal veins at wing margin
(Fig. 15); metacoxa with a well developed dorso basal tooth; metafemur without an inner
basal tooth, outer ventral margin weakly bilobed with a row of comb of teeth; propodeum
with deep pits and well developed post spiracular pit on either side, spiracles almost
vertical in position (Fig. 16); thorax sub equal to abdomen.
31
Metasoma: T1 with a shallow pit covered by two small ridges on both the sides of the
pit; T2 with small pits and rugae laterally; T3 with a smooth anterior and rough posterior
part covered with sparse lateral pubescence; T4,5 entirely rough with small rugae laterally
and dorsally; T6 larger in size from T4,5 but smaller than T3 with sparse punctations and
rugae; T7 smallest of all segments of abdomen and T8 is hairy, epipygium covering needle
like pointed ovipositor.
Male: (n = 20). Males are similar to the females in basic characters and colours except
the abdominal end, which is rounded in males.
Material Examined
Pakistan. KPK. Peshawar. 1♀. 34° 1.3΄N, 71° 28.5΄E. 10.vii.2003. Inayatullah. 1♀.
16.vii.2012. Inayatullah. 1♀. 10.vii.2003. Inayatullah. 1♀. 19.xi.2007. Inayatullah. 2♂.
22.vi.2012. Toheed Iqbal. 1♂. 09.vi.2012. Toheed Iqbal. 1♂. 23.viii.2013. Inayatullah.
1♂. 20.ix.2013. Inayatullah. Charsadda. 2♀, 1♂. 34° 5.06΄N, 71° 50.1΄E. 5.vii.2011.
Toheed Iqbal. 1♀, 1♂. 13.vi.2012. Toheed Iqbal. 2♀, 1♂. 5.vii.2011. Toheed Iqbal. 10♂.
5.vii.2011. Toheed Iqbal. Swabi. 1♂. 34° 11.0΄N, 72° 19.5΄E. 15.vii.2000. Inayatullah.
1♀. 14.vii.2000. Inayatullah. Nowshehra. 1♂. 34° 0.37΄N, 71° 56.2΄E. 22.v.2012. Toheed
Iqbal.
Distribution: Philippines and Pakistan (Swabi, Peshawar, Charsadda and Nowshehra,
New Records).
Host: Not Known
Comments: The species was described by Narendran (1989) who differentiated this
species from others by having convex thoracic notum, and with a broad pit at the base of
T1. Our specimen is similar to the description provided by Narendran and we found no
difference of character from his description. The species can be recognized by the
combination of the the following characters: convex metanotum, without longitudinal
furrow; forewing without any brown patch below the marginal or post marginal vein,
however wings have brown tinge; preorbital carina narrowly meets auricular carina,
postorbital carina absent; frontogenal sulcus distinct in lower half, apical half indistinct;
basal 2 segment of antennal flagellum rusty brown, remaining segments liver brown.
Host records of the species are not known.
32
The species was collected from grasses and other low vegetations throughout the year
with the help of sweep net and Malaise Trap installed in different locations of the
province. Collection dates show that the males are available throughout the year whereas
the females were encountered only in the spring season. The species has not been
reported after Narendran (1989) and therefore no synonymy is available so far. The
species is distributed in Swabi, Charsadda, Nowshehra and Peshawar areas of province of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and is collected during different months of the year. This species is
reported from Philippines and is a new record to the Chalcidid fauna of Pakistan and
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
2. Genus Hockeria Walker
(Figs. 19 - 32)
Hockeria Walker, 1834:21, 34. Type species “Chalcis bispinosa Fabricius” sensu Kirby
(=Hockeria bifasciata Walker); designated by Kirby, 1833.
Hockerella Girault, 1930(433): (4). Type species Hockerella dioculata Girault by
monotypy, syn by Bouček.
Stomatoceras Kirby, 1833: 54, 62. Type species Halticella liberator Walker; by original
designation.
Afrhockeria Steffan, 1955: 381-382. Type species Afrhockeria basilewskyi Steffan, by
original designation, syn. by Bouček.
Other extralimital synonyms are Centrochalcis Cameron, 1905, Hypochalcis Girault,
1915 and Afrochalcis Schimtz 1946b.
Diagnosis: The genus can be identified with the help of following characters: scrobe
shallow; preorbital carinae absent; antennal sockets situated very close to the clypeus;
frontogenal suture present; forewing with variable postmarginal vein, sometimes
distinctly well developed, sometimes almost absent; metafemur with two lobes followed
by comb-like dense small teeth ventraly.
Biology: Several species parasitise pupae of small to medium sized Lepidoptera, e.g,
Tortricide, Pyralidae, Psychidae etc. (Bouček, 1988).
33
Distribution: Europe (about 10 species), North America (5 species), Africa (30 species
but only 14 described), Asia (about 20 species), Australia (3 species only 1 described)
(Bouček, 1988).
Key to the species of genus Hockeria Walker from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
1. Eyes sparsely pubescent (Fig.11, 12); scrobe deep at base, striated on upper half
(Fig.12), length equal to almost the length of scape; basal end of metacoxae
without tooth or carina dorsally; hind leg and abdomen completely black (Fig. 14)
…………………………………………………………………argentigera Holmg.
1΄. Eyes not pubescent (Fig. 17); scrobe shallow, slightly pitted on upper half, length
of scrobe less than antennal scape (Fig. 18); metacoxae (Fig. 19) with basal tooth
at anterior margin; hind leg and abdomen blackish brown…………………………
………................................................................. nikolskayae Husain & Agarwal
2.1. Hockeria argentigera Holmgren
(Figs. 19-23)
Hockeria argentigera Holmgren, 1868:436, ♀. Java (NRS).
Diagnosis: The species can be differentiated by having compound eyes sparsely
pubescent (Fig. 19, 20); length of scrobe almost equal to the length of scape, deep at base
and striated apically (Fig.20); metacoxae without tooth or carina dorsobasally (Fig. 22);
hind leg and abdomen completely black.
Description of Male: (n = 8)
Length: 1.7 - 3.1mm
Colour: Predominantly Black; Eyes pale yellow; forewing with black bands with a round
spot near stigmal vein; fore and mid tarsi yellowish brown;
Head: Head wider, 1.3x its length, wider than the maximum width of the mesosoma
(Fig.19); POL almost 4x OOL (Fig.19); pre- and postorbital carina absent, genotemporal
34
furrow absent; scrobe not reaching front ocellus (Fig. 20); antennae thicker and shorter;
antenna with scape reaching front ocellus; scape length distinctly less than combined
length of segments 4-7; ring segment half the length of pedicel, length of club a little less
than twice the length of the preceeding segment; eyes slightly pubescent (Fig. 19, 20).
Mesosoma: close pits on dorsum with interstices narrow, rugose and ecarinate (Fig. 19);
apex of scutellum broadly overhanging the propodeum, bilobed apically; propodeum with
submedian and sublateral carinae (Fig. 23); lateral teeth on propodeum indistinct;
forewing with postmarginal vein 1/3rd the marginal vein, stigmal vein with a stub (Fig.
21); metacoxa without dorsobasal tooth or carina (Fig. 22); metafemur length almost 1.8
x its median width, its dorsal margin slightly angulate medially.
Metasoma: Abdomen shorter and narrower than thorax (Fig. 19); petiole very short; T1
with two distinct very short ridges at base with a fovea between the two short ridges; T1
shagreen posteriorly; T2-5 smooth dorsomedianlly, microsculpture present laterally;
abdomen rounded posteriorly.
Female: Not Known
Material Examined
Type Material Examined: Thailand: Chiang Mai; Thung Huay Kho, Thambou Donpau,
Amphur Mae Wang. 1♂. 20-30.iii.1997. S. Sonthichai MT. Malaysia; Borneo: Sarawak
sw. Gunung Buda, 56km S. Limbang. 1♂. 7.xi.1996. S. L. Heydon. Sarawak sw. Gunung
Buda, 64km S. Limbang. 2♂. 4° 13΄N 114° 56΄E. November 1996. S. L. Heydon and
Fung. Kedah Pantai Kok, Pulau Langkawi. 2♂. 6° 22΄N 99° 42΄E. 19-21.vi.1996. S. L.
Heydon and Fung. Pakistan: KPK; Nowshehra; Taru Jaba. 2♂. 31° 01΄N, 71° 44΄E.
4.vi.2013. Toheed Iqbal.
Distribution: India (West Bengal) Indonesia (Java, Bali), Malaysia (Borneao, Sarawak),
Thailand (Noyes, 2014) and Pakistan (Taru Jaba, New Record).
Host: Unknown
Comments: The species was originally described by Holmgren (1868). Hockeria
argentigera was termed as lectotype as it met the original description. H. grisselli was
termed as paralectotype which was later described by Narendran (1989). In our study, the
35
literature and the paratypes studied confirmed the species to be H. argentigera but our
male specimen differs from this paratype in having two charcters different from both H.
argentigera and H. grisselli. These characters include scrobe not reaching the anterior
ocellus and bilobed metafemur. These two characters make them similar to species i.e, H.
argentigera and H. grisselli, but as we do not have female specimen in our collection, we
therefore consider it to be H. argentigera as most of the characters fits its description.
Male specimen of this species can be identified by having having compound eyes
sparsely pubescent; length of scrobe almost equal to the length of scape, deep at base and
striated apically; metacoxae without tooth or carina dorsobasally; hind leg and abdomen
completely black.
Host of the species has not been reported so far. H. argentigera is reported from India,
Malaysia and Pakistan. Distribution record shows that the species is not widely
distributed and is reported from Asia. Host record of the species is not available. We
report this species for the first time from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan and is
therefore new record for the region. The species was collected from weeds in stagnant
water by sweeping insect net.
2.2. Hockeria nikolskayae Husain & Agarwal
(Figs. 24 - 30)
Hockeria nikolskayae Husain & Agarwal, 1982:319, ♀. India, Aligarh (ZDAMU).
Diagnosis: The species can be identified by having shallow scrobe, slightly pitted on
upper half (Fig. 25); eyes not pubescent (Fig. 25, 26); metafemur with two lobes and a
rounded apical margin, basal somewhat triangular, lobes with series of truncated teeth on
outer ventral margin (Fig. 27); frontogenal carina distinct but not reaching the eye (Fig.
25).
Description of Female: (n= 3)
Length: 2.8mm – 3.5mm
36
Colour: Predominantly Black; tegulae reddish brown; wings hyaline at apex and base,
remaining central portion blackish brown with rounded whitish spot; fore- and
mesocoxae black, remaining blackish brown; hind legs blackish brown.
Head: wider than long in front view, as wide as thorax, surface pitted compactly (Fig.
25); interspaces of pits fairly narrow and finely carinate; eyes glabrous (Fig. 25, 26);
genotemporal margin with a carina; scape and scrobe not reaching anterior ocellus,
scrobal cavity rugose with indistinct margins (Fig. 25, 26); frontogenal carina distinct but
not reaching the eye (Fig. 25); interantennal projection thin, distinctly projecting forward;
antennal club more than twice as long as wide, longer than combined length of
preceeding 2 segments (Fig. 25).
Mesosoma: mesosoma with compactly pitted dorsum; pits comparatively wider than pits
on scutellum, interspaces of pits narrow, finely carinate (Fig. 24); scutellum convex,
gently declining posteriorly, slightly protruding at the apex (Fig. 24); propodeum with
distinct submedian, sublateral and accessorial carinae with silvery white pubescence (Fig.
28); marginal vein of fore wing longer than post marginal vein, stigmal vein short (Fig.
24, 29); hind legs with densely pubescent coxae and femora (Fig. 27); metafemur with
two lobes and a rounded apical margin, basal somewhat triangular, lobes with series of
truncated teeth on outer ventral margin, reaching the middle of metafemur (Fig.27).
Metasoma: T1,2 almost glabrous covering about 1/4th abdomen (Fig. 28); T3-7 densely
setose (Fig. 28); subgenital plate with a median keel, with two lateral horns anteriorly,
posterior margin with a deep groove in the middle, outer plates of ovipositor narrow at
base, narrowly rounded at apex, with a thick muscular ridge along the dorsal margin.
Male: (n = 2). The males are similar to the females in general body features but are
smaller in size and have rounded abdomen.
Material Examined
Type Material Examined: India: 1♀, Karnataka; Banglore 916 km. 11-20.X.1988 (K.
Ghorpade). Pakistan: KPK; 1♀ Swabi. 34° 11.0΄N, 72° 19.5΄E. 23.vii.2000
(Inayatullah). 1♀. 20.vii.2004. (Inayatullah). 2♂ Nowshehra; Taru Jaba. 31° 01΄N, 71°
44΄E. 4.vi.2013 (Toheed Iqbal) (ECUAP).
Distribution: India (Noyes, 2014) and Pakistan (Taru jaba and Swabi, New Records).
37
Host: Lepidoptera: Arctiidae (Noyes, 2014).
Diacrisia oblique (Husain & Agarwal, 1982), and Spilosoma obliqua Walker (Narendran
1986).
Plant Associates: Family Fabaceae: Pisum vulgaris (Husain & Agarwal, 1982).
Comments: Hockeria nikol’skayae can be separated from other species of Hokeria by:
head with shallow scrobe anteriorly, slightly pitted on upper half; eyes not pubescent;
metafemur with two lobes and a rounded apical margin, basal somewhat triangular, lobes
with series of truncated teeth on outer ventral margin; frontogenal carina distinct but not
reaching the eye; metafemur with minute denticles in 2 or 3 lobes, reaching the middle of
femur.
Following Narendran (1989) key, our specimens correctly keys out to Hockeria
nikol’skayae and fits description provided by Husain & Agarwal (1982) f. Moreover,
paratypes present at Bohart Museum of Entomology, University of California, Davis, also
helped in comparing the species. Husain & Agarwal (1982) reported H. nikol’skayae as
parasitoid of Diacrisia obliqua (Lepidoptera: Acrtiidae), which is pest of Pisum vulgaris
whereas Narendran (1986) reported this species to be parasitoid upon Spilosoma obliqua.
H. nikol’skayae was collected from marshy areas of Taru Jaba and low vegetation of
grasses in Swabi with the help of sweep net. The species is not common and therefore not
reported from other adjacent areas. H. nikol’skayae seems to be native to India and
Pakistan as no information of this species is available from other areas. It has not been
synonimised and has not been reported elsewhere in the world. This species has already
been reported by Iqbal et al., (2013), from the same area.
38
3. Genus Kriechbaumerela Dalla Torre, 1897
(Figs. 30 – 38)
Coelops Kriechbaumer, 1894: 316-317. Type Species Coelops Palpebrator
Kriechbaumer; by monotypy, preoccupied by Coelops Blyth, 1849.
Kriechbaumerella Dalla Torre, 1897: 84. Replacement name for Coelops Kriechbaumer.
Eucepsis Steffan, 1953: 8, 12. Type species Stomatoceras margettii Masi; by original
designation.
Bouček (1992) considers Kriechbaumerella as a natural group with a
combination of characters i.e, upper face with distinct horseshoe like carina (as in
Antrocephalus) which extends scrobal cavity to preorbital carina above median ocellus;
pronotum with carinae confined to lateral third, mesally not turning obliquely backwards;
apex of scutellum more or less bidentate; metafemur comparatively widened on ventral
edge with almost equal lobe like teeth, with comb starting at base of first tooth; metatibia
without additional external carina; postmarginal vein always distinctly longer than
stigmal vein; abdomen sessile, in female lanceolate. The type species of
Kriechbaumerella differs from Eucepsis by having scutellum with longer teeth and thus
both the s genera can be differentiated from each other. Bouček (1988) synonymised
Eucepsis to Kriechbaumerella. However Steffan (1986 in personnel communication to
Narendran, 1989) was not of an idea to accept that Eucepsis is a synonym of
Kriechbaumerella.
As discussed, this genus is sometimes similar to certain species of genus Hockeria
of Oriental region but Kriechbaumerella can be differentiated from Hockeria by having
metafemur with three waved lower edge along with horseshoe shaped carina on anterior
margin of the head.
Biology: Parasitic on Lepidopterous pupae
Distribution: Mainly Africa (10 species atleast) and South Asia (about 6 species).
39
Key to the species of Kriechbaumerella Dalla Torre of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
1. Apex of scutellum projected backward (Fig. 32); mesosoma with interstics of pits
narrow and rugose (Fig. 32); T6 rugosopunctate with shallow pits (Fig. 31);
forewings with a single brown spot below the marginal vein (Fig. 37); antennae
wider; head and body completely black; stout and large sized (Fig. 31)
…………………………………………….….…………………... ayyari (Gahan)
1΄. Apex of scutellum with small lobes (Fig. 39); thorax with interstices of pits close,
interstices narrow, ecarinate and rugose; T6 rugosopunctate (Fig. 39); forewings
with two brown spots below the marginal vein; antennae narrower than above;
legs brown; medium size………………………………………….. kala Narendran
3.1. Kriechbaumerella ayyari (Gahan)
(Figs. 30-38)
Stomatoceras ayyari Gahan, 1919:518; Lectotype, ♀. India, Coimbatore, (USNM No.
22285).
Antrocephalus indicatus, Husain & Agarwal, 1982:333, ♂. India, Madhyapradesh,
Bhopal (ZDAMU)
Diagnosis: Comparatively larger size, stout; forewing with a brown spot below the
marginal vein; apex of scutellum broad, projecting backwards (Fig. 31, 32); thorax with
interstices of pits narrow, rugose (Fig. 31, 32); T6 rugosopunctate with shallow pits (Fig.
31); antennae broader & thicker; head and body completely black.
Description of Female (n= 1)
Length: 8.5mm
Colour: Predominently Black; eyes brown; ocellus light brown; antennal tips, fore-, mid-
and metafemur with tarsi blackish brown, rest of the legs black; tegulae black; forewings
hyaline with premarginal, marginal, post marginal and stigmal veins dark brown; hind
wings hyaline with light brown marginal vein.
40
Head: with a prominent preorbital carina that runs behind the anterior ocellus and runs to
the lower margin of the eye but faintly joins the auricular carina (Fig. 30, 36); scrobe and
scape reaching the anterior ocellus with a deep groove between the eyes (Fig. 30, 36);
clypeal suture joins the frontogenal carina, reaching just the lower margin of the eye (Fig.
30, 36); postorbital carina present which does not meet the temporal margin and meets
faintly with the posterior ocellus; genotemporal carina present which meets genal carina
at the lower margin; antennae just above the clypeus (Fig. 30, 36).
Mesosoma: slightly narrower than the head (Fig. 31); with distinct, deep and close pits,
interstices narrow, microsculptured, ecarinate (Fig. 32); pronotal collar with carinae
reaching the shoulder level (Fig. 38); forewings hyaline, with a brown patch just below
the junction of premarginal and marginal vein (Fig. 37); marginal vein shorter than
postmarginal vein, stigmal vein with a distinct uncus (Fig. 37); tegulae black; scutellum
with two apical teeth oriented slightly upwards (Fig. 31, 32); propodeum vertical to the
abdomen without lateral teeth (Fig. 35); metacoxa with well developed basal tooth at
basodorsal side (Fig. 33, 34); metafemur without an inner basal tooth and with a row of
small teeth on the anterior margin of the metafemur (Fig. 33, 34).
Metasoma: T1 with a basal fovea anteriorly, distinctly microsculptured on dorsal side
(Fig. 31); T2-5 with posterior margins microsculptured dorsally and pitted deep dorso-
laterally (Fig. 31); T6 rugosopunctate (Fig. 31); epipygium carinate in the middle, much
longer than medial length of T6 (Fig. 31).
Male: (n = 3). Male specimen examined from the collection of Bohart Museum showed
slight difference from the female in having rounded abdominal end and small size. Basic
morphological characters and colour of both sexes were similar.
Material Examined
Type Material Examined: Philippines: Angeles City, Luxon Pl. 1♂. 4.vi.1978.
Montgomry Rd. Colr. Thailand: Chiang Mai, Pa Huay Kho, Thambon Donpao, Amphur
Mae Wang. 1♂. 10-20.iv.1997. S. Sonthichai. India: Karantaka, Banglore 916 km. 11-
31.vi.1989. K Ghorpade, YPT. Pakistan: KPK; Peshawar. 1♀. 34° 3.5΄N, 71° 32.1΄E.
9.vi.2012. Inayatullah.
41
Distribution: India (Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pardesh) (Noyes, 2014),
Thailand (new records), Philippine (new records) and Pakistan (Peshawar, new record).
Host: Parasa lepida (Cramer) (Limacodidae) (Narendran, 1986).
Comments: Literature shows that Kriechbaumerella ayyari was first described by Gahan
(1919), with the name Stomatocerus ayyari, which was later synonymised by Husain &
Agarwal (1982) and named it as Antrocephalus indicatus. Later Narendran (1989) named
it as Kriechbaumerella ayyari. The species can be identified by the following characters
i.e, body size comparatively larger; body stout; forewing with a brown spot below the
marginal vein; apex of scutellum broad, projecting backwards; thorax rugose, with
narrow interstices of pits; T6 rugosopunctate with shallow pits; antennae broader; head
and body completely black; antennae thicker than K. kala.
The only specimen was collected from the exuae of wax moth pupae. It is reported as a
parasitoid of wax moth pupae for the first time. The species fits to the key and description
of Narendran (1989). This specimen was also compared with the paratypes present at
Bohart Museum of Entomology, University of California, Davis, USA. Host record of the
species shows that it is parasitoid upon Parasa lepida (Limacodidae: Lepideptera). The
species can be reared on the pest and applied for biological control of the pest. Only
specimen in the collection shows that the species is rare and has not been collected and
reported from other parts of the world. Although not reported earlier, but the paratypes
present in Bohart Mueum of Entomology shows that they were collected from Thailand
and Philippines. In current study we report them from Philippines and Thailand as well as
from KP province of Pakistan. This genus and species is reported for the first time from
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan.
42
3.2. Kriechbaumerella kala Narendran 1989
(Figs. 39 - 43)
Diagnosis: Apex of scutellum with sharp lobes; forewing with two brown spots at
margin; thorax with interstices of pits close, interstices narrow, ecarinate and rugose; T6
rugosopunctate; legs brown; medium size.
Description of Female: (n= 9)
Length: 4 - 4.5mm
Colour: Black; eyes whitish to dark; tegulae brown to black; fore and mid femora, fore
and mid tibia liver brown; base of metafemur slightly rufous; forewing with a brown
tinge and a spot between the brown patch, rest of the wing hyaline; premarginal, marginal
and stigmal vein brown; marginal vein with a brown spot below it; postmarginal vein
shorter than the marginal vein; brown spot just below the apical end of postmarginal vein.
Head: much wider than thorax (Fig. 39, 42); preorbital carina distinct, postorbital carina
absent (Fig. 41, 42); frontogenal sulcus present but ecarinate; genotemporal margin
without a distinct furrow (Fig. 41, 42); antennal scrobe and scape reaching anterior
ocellus (Fig. 41, 43); antennal base just above the clypeus (Fig. 41, 43); POL 4-5x OOL
(Fig. 43).
Mesosoma: mesosoma ecarinate and rugose with closer dorsal pits and narrow
interstices; forewing hyaline with 2 brown patches, postmarginal vein shorter than
marginal vein, stigmal vein with distinct uncus (Fig. 39); apex of scutellum with two
apical teeth jetting over the propodeum; propodeum with a pair of lateral teeth like
structure near the spiralces; metacoxa with a distinct subbasal tooth on dorso basal
margin (Fig. 40); metafemur with three dents of small teeth ventrally and without a basal
tooth (Fig. 40).
Metasoma: Abdomen longer than thorax (Fig. 39); T1 with a median fovea at the anterior
end without any carina, shining and smooth; T1 covers almost half of the metasoma; T2-5
shagreen with pubescence and pits scattered on sides (Fig. 39); T6 rugosopunctate (Fig.
39); epipygium carinate at the middle (Fig. 39).
43
Male: (n = 15). The male resembles its female except having punctate T1, scape not
reaching the anterior ocellus; antennae stout but thinner, other characters similar to the
female.
Material Examined
Type Material Examined: Thailand: Chiang Mai Prov. Pa Huay Kho, Thambon
Donpao, Amphur Mae Wang. 1♂. 1-10.iv.1997. S. Sonthichai. Pakistan: KPK;
Peshawar. 1♀. 34° 01΄N, 71° 28΄E. 7.vii.2003. Inayatullah. 1♀. 13.vii.2004. Inayatullah.
1♀. 9.vi.2012. Toheed Iqbal. 1♀. 11.vii.2004. 1♂. 16.vii.2012. Inayatullah. 1♂.
20.vii.2004. Inayatullah. 1♂. 6.vii.2004. Inayatullah. 1♂. 1.viii.2004. Inayatullah. 1♂.
13.vii.2003. Inayatullah. 1♂. 28.vii.2004. Inayatullah. 3♂. 9.vi.2012. Toheed Iqbal.
Swabi. 1♂. 34° 11΄N, 72° 19.5΄E. 19.iii.2002. Inayatullah. 2♂. 15.vii.2000. Inayatullah.
Inayatullah. 1♀. 14.vii.2000. Inayatullah. 1♀. 20.viii.2002. Inayatullah. 1♀. 23.vii.2000.
Inayatullah. Nowshehera. 1♀. 34° 0.37΄N, 71° 56.2΄E. 7.iv.2011. Toheed Iqbal.
Charsadda. 1♀. 34° 5΄N, 71° 50΄E. 5.vii.2011. Toheed Iqbal. 1♂. 16.vi.2002. Inayatullah.
1♂. 13.vi.2012. Toheed Iqbal.
Distribution: Indonesia (Java, Bali), Malaysia (Peninsular), Phillipines, Singapore,
(Noyes, 2014), Thailand (New Record) and Pakistan (Peshawar, Swabi, Nowshehra and
Charsadda, new records).
Host: Unknown
Comments: Narendran (1989) described the species. The species can be identified by a
series of character i.e, body length less than K. ayyari; antennae narrower than K. ayyari;
apex of scutellum with sharp lobes; wing with two brown spots at margin; thorax with
interstices of pits close, interstices narrow, ecarinate and rugose; T6 rugosopunctate; legs
brown; body medium size.
Narendran (1989) describes about the metasoma with two small carinae anteriorly, and T2
smooth in the middle. In paratypes I observed at Bohart Museum of Entomology, UC
Davis, USA, and the specimen in my collection, I did not find any carina at anterior
margin of metasoma, however small fovea is present which is not covered by any carinae
laterally, however small ridges were present on both the sides of the fovea. Similiarly T2
is shagreen in my specimen as well as in the paratype I examined. However the key and
44
rest of his description fits our specimen. Males are slightly smaller in size from the
females and resemble its female in morphology except having punctate T1, scape not
reaching the anterior ocellus; antennae stout but thinner. Host record of this species is not
available. Distribution of the species shows that it is widely distributed in Asia and
Oriental region. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, we collected thi species in large numbers as
compard to other species. This shows huge host preference and wide range of
environmental flexibility of this species. The species can be of economic importance and
should be reared and studied against different pests so as to find its potential host. We can
rear it in lab and releasing in the field to control its host population as the species is
widespread in plain areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The genus as well as species are
reported for the first time from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan and are therefore new
records for the area.
45
4. Genus Neochalcis Kirby
(Figs. 44 - 48)
Neochalcis Kirby, 1883: 54, 63. Type species: Haltichella osmicida Saunders, by original
designation.
The known synonyms are; Orthochalcis Kieffer (1905) and Eugastrochalcis Masi (1929).
Diagnosis: The genus can be identified with the combination of the following characters;
antennae short, pubescent; scape short and thick; mesosoma with well marked sutures
(Fig. 44); metafemur with strong tooth in the middle and a characteristic dent on ventral
margin (Fig. 48); abdomen oval in males, conical in females with pointed ovipositor (Fig.
44, 45).
Distribution: Mediterranean region, Africa, Asia and Europe (Bouček, 1988).
4.1. Neochalcis breviceps (Masi)
(Fig. 44 - 48)
Eugastrochalcis breviceps Masi, 1929:182, ♀. Philipines, Basiland island (USNM No.
41294).
Hockeria maetai Habu, 1969:338, ♀. Japan, Hoshu (NIAS). Syn. Narendran, 1989.
Eugastrochalcis secundus Mani & Dubey1974:6. ♀. India, Cardamom Hills (USNM).
Syn. Narendran, 1989.
Diagnosis: Faint preorbital carina running from posterior ocellus towards the lower
margin of the eye (Fig. 46); post orbital carina very weak; frontogenal sulcus absent (Fig.
46); scrobe narrowly reaching the anterior ocellus (Fig. 46); metacoxa with a sub basal
tooth on dorsal side followed by a carina; metafemur with a basal tooth in the middle at
the anterior margin followed by small teeth in a wavy form (Fig. 48a); metatibia with an
additional carina on the outer side (Fig. 48b); epipygium ecarinate in the middle and
pubescent (Fig. 44, 45).
Description of Female: (n= 6)
Length: 3.2 – 4.8 mm
46
Colour: Predominently Black. The species has too much variation in colour. Antennae,
abdomen and legs changes from black to dark brown in many specimens and sometimes
become reddish brown; eyes black; wings hyaline; forewings with dark brown veins; hind
wings with pale yellow veins.
Head: Head with faint preorbital carina running from posterior ocellus towards the lower
margin of the eye; post orbital carina very week or faintly visible; frontogenal sulcus
absent (Fig. 46c); face with deep punctations (Fig. 46b); scrobe narrowly reaching the
anterior ocellus; area between scrobe and eye convex and bulging out; scape reaching the
anterior ocellus (Fig. 46a); base of antennae slightly above the clypeus (Fig. 46d);
temporal margin with shallow groove; POL 2-3 x OOL.
Mesosoma: Pronotum shiny black with pits not too deep, closely spaced (Fig. 44a);
mesonotum with small punctations anteriorly, turning to large pits in the meso dorsal part
(Fig. 44b); scutellum not emerginate over the propodeum and rounded posteriorly (Fig.
44c); forewing with marginal vein longer than postmarginal vein, stigmal vein shorter
than postmarginal vein, with distinct uncus (Fig. 47); metacoxa with a sub basal tooth on
dorsal side followed by a carina; metafemur with a basal tooth in the middle at the
anterior margin followed by small teeth in a wavy form (Fig. 48a); metatibia with an
additional carina on the outer side (Fig. 48b).
Metasoma: T1 without prominent fovea at the anterior margin, shining anteriorly with
rough and pitted posterior margin (Fig. 44d, 45a); T2-5 with small pits and pubescence
laterally (Fig. 44d, 45b); T6 with deep punctations and hairs, much larger than combined
T2-5 (Fig. 44e, 45c), epipygium ecarinate in the middle and pubescent (Fig. 44f, 45d);
sharp needle like ovipositor can be seen easily in dorsal and lateral view (Fig. 44f, 45d,
48c).
Male: Unknown
Material Examined
Type Material Examined: Thailand: Chaing Mai; Thung Huay Kho, Thambou
Donpao, Amphur Mae Wang. 1♀. 10-20.iii.1997. Chaing Mai; Pa Huay Kho, Thambon
Don pao, Amphur Mae Wang. 1♀. 20-30.iv.1997. Sri Lanka: Central Province, Kandy
Dist. Vict. Randenigala, Rantembe Sanct. 07°13’N 80° 57’E. 1♀. 23-30.viii.1999. MT.
47
M&J wasbauer. Pakistan: KPK; Peshawar. 3♀. 34° 1.3’N, 71° 28.5’E. 23.viii.2013.
Inayatullah.
Distribution: India (Bihar, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal), Japan, Philippines
(Noyes, 2014) and Pakistan (Peshawar, new records).
Host: Ceratina flavipes (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Habu (1969) and Maeta (1969).
Comments: Neochalcis breviceps (Masi) was described by Masi as Eugastrochalcis
breviceps (1929). Later Habu (1969) described it as Hockeria maetai (1969) and Mani &
Dubey (1964) as Eugastrochalcis secundus, both of which were synonymized by
Naredran (1989) as Neochalcis breviceps. It can be identified with a series of characters
i.e, faint preorbital carina running from posterior ocellus towards the lower margin of the
eye; post orbital carina very week; frontogenal sulcus absent; scrobe narrowly reaching
the anterior ocellus; metacoxa with a sub basal tooth on dorsal side followed by a carina;
metafemur with a basal tooth in the middle at the anterior margin followed by small teeth
in a wavy form; metatibia with an additional carina on the outer side; epipygium
ecarinate in the middle and pubescent.
Neochalcis breviceps was collected from grasses and low vegetation with the help of
sweep net. No male was collected therefore no comparison of male and female was done.
Literature shows that the species is parasitoid of Ceratina flavipes (Hymenoptera:
Apidae). The species were compared with the paratypes present at Bohart Museum of
Entomology, UC Davis, USA and showed that they were having same basic characters
with slight difference in colour. Some of them had reddish colour on mesonotum. Our
species had T1 slightly (in fractions) longer than paratypes. Change in colour could be
sort of variation as the paratypes were collected from Srilanka and Thailand. Research
needs to be done on the efficacy of this parasitoid upon other related pests and then
studying its effect as biological control agent. Neochalcis breviceps were collected from
Peshawar. Collection from other similar areas should also be carried out to investigate the
presence of Neochalcis breviceps in these areas of the province.
48
Tribe Hybothoracini
Hybothoracini was proposed by Steffan (1951c) with name Euchalcidia. Bouček
(1992) considered it as apomorphic sister group of Haltichellini.
Diagnosis: The tribe can be differentiated from Haltichellini by having anterior margin of
fore wing with reduced wing venation i.e, marginal vein slightly removed from the
anterior wing margin, postmarginal vein absent and stigmal vein very short. Metafemur
with a long, well-developed comb of ventral teeth, and with a basal tooth on the inner
side of the metafemur even when tibia is intact. In Hybothoracini, the antennae bear short
pilosity on the flagellum and the puntures on the thorax is reduced as compared to
Haltichellini, which bears dense punctation.
Biology: Biologically, Hybothoracini prefers drier conditions than Haltichellini. No other
difference has been reported so far between the two tribes.
Following genera are included in this tribe, i.e, Psilochalis, Proconura and
Neohybothorax.
5. Genus Psilochalcis Kieffer
(Figs. 49 – 54)
Psilochalcis Kieffer, 1905; 250:251; Type species; Psilochalcis longigena Kieffer.
Hyperchalcidia Steffan, 1951b:67; Type species; Hyperchalcididae soudanensis Steffan;
by original designation. Syn. Narendran 1989.
Diagnostic Characters: The genus can be recognized with the help of the following
characters; metafemur with a well developed tooth at anterior margin, fine rugae present
on the tooth; pits on mesosoma with wider spaces among them; frontogenal sulcus
strong; pre and postorbital carinae absent; wings without postmarginal vein, marginal
vein short and removed from wing margin.
Distribution: Mexico, Senegal, Spain, West Africa, USA (California), India, Pakistan.
(Noyes, 2014), Madagascar and Africa (Narendran, 1989).
Biology: Primary Hosts: Pachymerus cassiae (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), Chilo partellus
Chilotraea zonella, Eldana saccharina (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), Pleutella maculipennis
49
(Lepidoptera:Yponomeutidae) and Harrisina brillians (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae)
(Noyes, 2014).
Plant Associates: Order: Not Known. Ficus carica (Family: Moraceae), Sorghum
helpense (Family: Poaceae), Zea mays (Family: Poaceae) and Vitis vininfera (Family:
Vitaceae) (Noyes, 2014).
5.1. Psilochalcis carinigena (Cameron)
(Fig. 49 - 54)
Coelochalcis carinigena Cameron.1907a:579, ♂. India, Gujarat. (BMNH No. 5-251).
Chalcidiopsis odontomera Masi. 1933. ♂. Syntypes. DEI. Taiwan. Konowia. 12:5
Inveria opisinae Narendran 1985:85. ♂. India, Gujarat, (DZCU). Syn. Narendran 1989.
Psilochalcis carinigena (Cameron). 1907a. Oriental Insects. 21. 437-439. Syn. Suba Rao.
1987.
Diagnosis: Scrobe not too deep, rather shallow with transverse rugae (Fig. 51a); pre and
post orbital carina absent (Fig. 51); frontogenal sulcus strong at the lower end not
reaching the eye (Fig. 51b); antennal scape swollen basally; flagellum filiform;
metafemur with a large basal tooth, followed by small teeth forming a small lobe near the
base of the femur (Fig. 52a); epipygium carinate in the middle (Fig. 50a).
Description of Female: (n = 12)
Length: 3 - 4.5 mm
Colour: Predominently Black; eyes greyish brown; coxae black; trochanter, femora and
tibia brownish red; metatibia dark brown posteriorly and blackish anteriorly; tegulae dark
brown; wings hyaline, veins brown; mesosoma and metasoma shining black.
Head: Head with scrobe not reaching the anterior ocellus (Fig. 51a); scrobe not too deep,
rather shallow with transverse rugae; lower face with dense pubescence (Fig. 51); pre and
post orbital carina absent (Fig. 51); frontogenal sulcus strong at the lower end not
reaching the eye (Fig. 51b); genotemporal margin with dense pubescence; POL 3-4x
OOL; antennae attached just above the clypeus; scape swollen basally; flagellum
filiform; scape almost reaching the anterior ocellus (Fig. 51).
50
Mesosoma: punctations widely spaced, not too deep (Fig. 49a); anterior pronotal!collar
with carina reaching slightly above the shoulder; wings hyaline with long submarginal
vein, marginal vein very short and away from the wing margin, postmarginal vein absent,
stigmal vein short, without uncus (Fig. 49b, 53a); scutellum with a central, vertically
smooth and shiny space, rounded posterior margin,! slightly emerginate over the!
propodeum (Fig. 49c); propodeum subvertical apically, extended horizontally backwards
with distinct submedian and sublateral carinae, accessorial carinae distinct basally (Fig.
54), each lateral margin with two distinct post spiracular teeth; metacoxae smooth
dorsally; metafemur with a large basal tooth, followed by small teeth forming a small
lobe near the base of the femur (Fig. 52a).
Metasoma: Basal fovea at anterior end of T1 with small ridges laterally, length of the
ridges smaller than the space between them (Fig. 49d); T1 arcuate posteriorly with small
pubescence laterally (Fig. 50b); T2 shagreen like T1 in the middle with dense pubescence
laterally (Fig. 50c); T 2-5 with smooth anterior margins, shagreen, slightly pubescent
laterally and posteriorly; T6 with dense pubescence posteriorly and laterally (Fig. 50d);
epipygium carinate in the middle (Fig. 50a).
Male: (n= 12). Males are different from females by having apex of scutellum slightly
jetting over the propodeum; head and body pubiscent densely; metafemur black;
abdominal end rounded.
Material Examined
Type Material Examined: India: Karnataka; Banglore 916 km. 5♀, 1♂. 1-10.iii.1989.
K. Ghorpade C45. Banglore 916 km. 1♂. 1-15.viii.1989. K. Ghorpade YPT. Banglore
916 km. 1♀, 2♂. 11-20.v.1989. K. Ghorpade C45. Banglore 916 km. 1♀, 1♂. 21-
30.iv.1989. K. Ghorpade C45. Sri Lanka: Central Province, Kandy Distt. Vict.
Randenigala, Rantambe Sanct. 7° 13’N 80° 57’E. 1♀, 1♂. 23-30.viii.1999. Malaise Trap.
M & J Wasbauer. Kandy Distt. Vict. Randenigala, Rantambe Sanct. 7° 13’N 80° 57’E.
1♀, 2♂. 25-29.viii.1999. Malaise Trap. M & J Wasbauer. Malaysia: Petaling Jaya;
Sealangor. 1♀. 1.x.1966. Pakistan: KPK; Peshawar. 1♂. 34° 01΄N, 71° 28΄E.
15.viii.2004. Inayatullah. Peshawar. 1♂. 25.vii.2003. Inayatullah. Swabi. 1♀.
14.vii.2000. Inayatullah. Swabi. 1♂. 34° 11΄N, 71° 19.5΄E. 15.viii.2004. Inayatullah.
51
Swabi. 1♀. 15.vii.2000. Inayatullah. Nowshehra, Taru Jaba. 1♂. 31° 01΄N, 71° 44΄E.
4.vi.2013. Toheed Iqbal.
Distribution: India (Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, West Bengal)
Taiwan (Noyes 2014) and Pakistan (KPK; Nowshehra, Swabi and Peshawar, New
records).
Host: Opisina arenosella Walker (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae), Hyblaea puera
(Lepidoptera: Hyblaeidae) (Noyes, 2014).
Plant Associates: Tectona grandis (Verbenaceae) (Noyes, 2014).
Comments: Psilochalcis carinigena was described by Cameron (1907a), as Coelochalcis
carinigena. Later Masi (1933) described it as Chalcidiopsis odontomera, and Inveria
opisinae Narendran (1985) that was synonimised by Narendran (1989) and as
Psilochalcis carinegena (Cameron), which was synonymized by Suba Rao (1987). This
species can be identified with the help of following character; scrobe not too deep, rather
shallow with transverse rugae; pre and post orbital carina absent; frontogenal sulcus
strong at the lower end not reaching the eye; scape swollen at basal part; flagellum
filiform; anterior pronotal! collar with carina reaching slightly above the shoulder;
metafemur with a large basal tooth, followed by small teeth forming a small lobe near the
base of the femur; epipygium carinate in the middle.
The speciemen were compared with paratypes available in the Bohart Museum of
Entomology, UC Davis, USA. Comparison showed no difference in characters from the
paratypes. Psilochalcis carinigena is distributed in India and Taiwan but has not been
reported elsewhere. In current study, we report the species from Srilanka, Malaysia, and
Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), as new records. Literature shows that the species is
parasitoid of Opisina arenosella Wallker and Hyblaea puera (Noyes, 2014). Both these
species are lepidopterous pests. Psilochalcis carinegena is biological control agent of
these species and can be applied on large scales by rearing them in labs and releasing
them to control the pest naturally. More research needs to be done on artificial rearing of
the parasitoid to control other lepidopterous pests also.
!
52
6. Genus Proconura Dodd
(Plates 1-4)
Proconura Dodd in Girault 1915. Memoirs of Queensland Museum, 4:33. Type species
Proconura politiventris Dodd & Girault, original designation and monotypy.
Neochalcidia Husain, Rauf and Kudeshia 1985. Polskie pismo Entomologiczne. 55:525.
Type species Neochalcidia longiclavata Husain, Rauf and Kudeshia, original
designation and monotypy.
Diagnosis: The genus can be recognized by the presence of two carinae on both sides of
basal fovea on anterior margins of T1; these carinae can either be parallel, strongly
convergent or may exceed the length of the fovea.
Distribution: Europe, Africa, Australia, Asia, Pacific Island (Narendran, 1989) and
Pakistan (New record). This genus comprises of only one species in current research
work. More collection may increase the number of species in this genus.
Hosts: Primary Host: Pleutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) (Noyes, 2014).
Plant Associates: Brassica oleraceae (Family Brassicae) (Noyes, 2014).
6.1. Proconura minusa Narendran
(Plates 1-6)
Diagnosis: T1 smooth, shiny and arcuate; wings hyaline (Plate 4, 6); vertex broad (Plat
1a, 3a); scrobe not reaching anterior ocellus (Plate 1b, 3d); frontogenal sulcus faintly
visible (Plate 3b); scape, pedicel and ring segment rust brown, rest of antennal flagellum
dark brown (Plate 1c, 3c).
Description of Male: (n = 2)
Length: 1.8-2.2mm
Colour: Predominently Black; apex of scape, pedicel, ring segment, bases and apices of
fore femora, fore tibiae, bases and apices of mid femora, mid tibiae and all tarsi pale rusty
brown; metacoxa, trochanter, tibia and femur dark brown; eyes and ocellus dark brown;
53
tegulae rust brown; wings hyaline with brown premarginal and marginal vein; mesosoma
shining black; metasoma blackish brown from dorsal side.
Head: slightly wider than long (Plate 4); vertex broad (Plate 1a, 3a); scrobe not too deep,
not reaching anterior ocellus, reach 2/3 length of the scape with horizontal rugae (Plate
1b, 4d); antennal base just above the clypeus; preorbital carina absent; frontogenal sulcus
faintly visible, not reaching eye (Plate 3b); postorbital carina present; scape not reaching
the anterior ocellus (Plate 1b, 3d); POL 4 - 5x OOL; frons with almost contiguous pits.
Mesosoma: mesosoma almost smooth, with punctations not too deep (Plate 5a); slightly
narrower than the head (Plate 4); interstices shagreen on pronotum and anterior part of
mesonotum (Plate 4a); scutellum rounded posteriorly, much lower in elevation from
mesosoma (Plate 4b); propodeum just below the scutellum, present almost horizontal in
position to the scutellum and abdomen (Plate 5b); longitudinal carinae distinct except
accessorial carinae which are distinct only on one third basal part of propodeum,
transverse secondary carinae distinct; lateral teeth on propodeum indistinct; forewing
with marginal carina slightly removed from the wing margin, postmarginal carina absent,
stigmal carina 1/3 the length of marginal carina (Plate 4c, 6a); metafemur length 1.75x its
width (Plate 2); metafemur without an inner basal tooth, anteriorly with large teeth
followed by a row of small teeth (Plate 2).
Metasoma: slightly shorter than thorax (Plate 4); T1 smooth, shiny with basal carinae
converging posteriorly, posterior margin of T1 arcuate; T2 smooth and shiny on dorsal
margin, its posterior margin convex slightly, laterally lightly pubiscent; T3-6 rugose.
Female: Unknown
Material Examined
Pakistan: KPK; Peshawar. 1♂. 34° 1.3΄N, 71° 28.5΄E. 5.v.2009. Inayatullah. Swabi. 1♂.
34° 11΄N, 72° 19.5΄E. 4.viii.2000. Inayatullah.
Distribution: India (Tamil Nadu), Malaysia (Sarawak), Thailand (Noyes, 2014) and
Pakistan (Swabi and Peshawar, New Records).
Hosts
Primary Host: Sitotroga cerealella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), (Noyes, 2014).
Plant Associates: Oryza sativa (Family Poaceae) (Noyes, 2014).
54
Comments: The species comprises of only two male specimens collected from Peshawar
and Swabi regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The species can be identified with the help
of the following characters; first tergite of abdomen smooth, shiny and arcuate; wings
hyaline; tegulae dark brown; vertex not narrow; scrobe not reaching anterior ocellus;
frontogenal sulcus faintly visible; scape, pedicel and ring segment rust brown in colour,
rest of antennal flagellum dark brown.
These characters match the literature and key. No paratype of this species was examined.
Narendran (1989) has provided description of the female; however, this description of the
male specimen is provided on the bases of visible characters on the specimen. Literature
shows that tegulae are black in female whereas they are are rust brown in male. The
specimens were collected from low vegetation and grasses with the help of sweep net.
The only species in the genus shows that the species is rare and is not widely spread in
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. Proconura minusa is reported for the first time from the
region. It is also reported from India, Malaysia and Thailand. Thus the species is reported
only from Asia. Host record of the species shows that it is primary parasitoid of
Sitotrogra cerealella, which is lepidopterous pest of rice, wheat, maize and other stored
grains. The species can be reared in control environment and can be applied as biological
control agent against Sitotrogra cerealella as S. cerealella is a pest of stored grains in
Pakistan. Konishi et al., (2004) reported five species of Chalcididae from rice stores in
Thailand. Procunura minusa Narendran was the dominant species and was considered to
be an important parasitoid of Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier). On Corcyra cephalonica
(Stainton), they found Proconura caryobori and Antrocephalus mitys (Walker) as a
parasitoid. A. mitys was not considered to be an important parasitoid of C. cephalonica
because of its low population. They also described newly introduced species i.e,
Notaspediella clavata Narendran & Konishi and N. thailandicum Narendran & Konishi.
55
7. Genus Neohybothorax Nikol΄skaya
(Figs. 55 - 58)
Neohybothorax Nikol΄skaya, 1960: 28. Type Species: Hockeria hetera Walker by
original designation.
Diagnosis: The genus can be characterized by posterior corners of the propodeum
produced posteriorly; frons not bulging; antennal scape reaching anterior ocellus;
metafemur with long comb of teeth on anterior ventral margin. Narendran (1986), had
erranously reported this genus as Hybothorax.
7.1 Neohybothorax hetera (Walker)
(Figs. 55 - 58)
Hockeria hetera Walker. 1834. Entomological Magazine. 2(1): 35.
Haltichella hetera (Walker). ♀. 1871, Part III. 37-54E.W. Janson, London. Misspelling
of genus name Haltichella hetera and new combination of name Hockeria hetera.
Hybothorax hetera (Walker). 1952. Bouček, Z. 1952. 27 (Suppliment 1): 94.
Neohybothorax hetera (Walker). 1960. Nikol΄skaya, M. N. 220 – 246.
Diagnosis: Wings with premarginal vein yellowish brown, marginal vein brown, post
marginal vein absent, stigmal vein reduced into a stub like structure; preorbital carina
present (Fig. 55); postorbital carina and frontogenal sulcus absent (Fig. 55); antennae just
above the clypeus (Fig. 55); anteriorly mesonotum with median unpunctate, rugose
portion; wings hyaline without postmarginal vein, marginal vein slightly removed from
the wing margin, stigmal vein reduced.
Description of Male (n = 1)
Length: 3.7mm
Colour: Predominently Black; eyes transparent; antennae rusty brown; eyes yellowish;
tegulae, coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia and tarsi of fore and meso legs rusty brown; wings
hyaline, premarginal vein yellowish brown, marginal vein brown, post marginal vein
absent, stigmal vein reduced into a stub like structure; metacoxa brownish black basally,
56
rest completely black; metafemur completely black with very small apical area brownish
near the base of the tibia; metatibia blackish with brownish apical margin; tarsi of hind
leg brown; metasoma completely black dorsally.
Head: slightly wider than pronotum; scape reaching half the length of the scrobe (Fig.
55); space between the eyes slightly concave; scape reaching anterior ocellus; preorbital
carina present; postorbital carina and frontogenal sulcus absent; antennae just above the
clypeus; length of flagellar segment 1 almost equal to the length of flagellar segment 2+3
(Fig 55b); vertex narrow; POL 4 to 5 x OOL.
Mesosoma: slightly punctate with widely spaced punctations (Fig. 57a); anteriorly
pronotum with strong lateral carina coming above the shoulder level not joining medially,
rugose, smooth; pronotum convex posteriorly (Fig. 57b); anteriorly mesonotum with
median unpunctate, rugose portion; scutellum rounded posteriorly, slightly emerginate
over the propodeum; propodeum with lateral teeth just close to the spiracles (Fig. 57c);
wings hyaline without postmarginal vein, marginal vein slightly removed from the wing
margin, stigmal vein reduced into a stub; metafemur as long as wide, anterior margin
without inner basal tooth, small teeth forming a lobe basally (Fig. 56).
Metasoma: T1 arcuate posteriorly, smooth, shiny, with two carinae at anterior margin
converging posteriorly (Fig. 58a); T2-5 with shining anterior margin and shagreen
posterior margin with small pubescence laterally coming upto the center; T2 almost the
size of combined length of T3-5; epipygium ecarinate (58b).
Female: Unknown
Material Examined
Pakistan: KPK; Swabi. 1♂. 34° 11΄N, 72° 19.5΄E. 29.viii.2003. Inayatullah.
Distribution: Caucasus, Czech Republic, Czechoslovakia, Europe, France, Germany,
Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden (Noyes, 2014) and Pakistan (KPK; Swabi, new
record).
Host: Libelloides coccajus (Neuroptera: Ascalaphidae) (Sellenschlo & Troger, 1993,
(Noyes, 2014)).
57
Comments: Neohybothorax hetera (Walker) was described as Hockeria hetera by
Walker in 1834. Later it was given name Haltichella hetera by Walker in 1871. Bouček
(1952) synonymized it as Hybothorax hetera (Walker) in 1952, which was synonymized
as Neohybothorax hetera (Walker) by Nikol΄skaya (1960). In current study, I have this
only species available, therefore I am unable to compare it with any other specimen.
Current description is based upon a single male specimen collected from grasses and low
vegetations with the help of sweep net. The species was identified with the help of
available literature; however we redescribe the species with more details than earlier
descriptions. The species can be identified with the help of following characters; wings
with premarginal vein yellowish brown, marginal vein brown, post marginal vein absent,
stigmal vein reduced into a stub like structure; preorbital carina present; postorbital carina
and frontogenal sulcus absent; antennae just above the clypeus; anteriorly mesonotum
with median unpunctate, rugose portion; wings hyaline without postmarginal vein,
marginal vein slightly removed from the wing margin, stigmal vein reduced into a stub.
The species is mostly reported from Europe. Neohybothorax hetera is reported for the
first time from Oriental region; however Narendran reported this as unknown species
from India. Host record of the species is limited to Libelloides coccajus (Neuroptera:
Ascalaphidae) (Sellenschlo & Troger, 1993, (Noyes, 2014)). Research needs to be
conducted on the host preferences of this species as well as its efficacy against other
insects’ pests. More collection is required to find about this species and other sister
species availability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Neohybothorax hetera is reported for the
first time from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
58
Subfamily Chalcidinae
Brachymeriinae of earlier authors Steffan (1951a) and Bouček (1952) is included
in this subfamily but classification of Bouček (1988) is followed by the authors
afterwards. The subfamily is subdivided into four tribes. Phasgophorini and Cratocentrini
are grouped equivalent to former Brchymeriinae and all the three are now placed as
tribes’ alongwith Chalcidini in subfamily Chalcidinae. Earlier, Chalcidinae was separated
from Brachymeriinae on the bases of sessile or patiolated abdomen. Still there is
confusion about the classification of these four tribes into subfamily on the bases of
abdomen being petiolated as in Chalcidinae and non-petiolated as in Brchymeriini.
In current studies, we report subfamily Chalcidinae with tribe Brachymerini
comprising of a single genus Brachymeria that is the most speciose genus with 8 species
reported new from different locations of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribe Chalcidini
comprising of only one genus Chalcis with one species Chalcis gibsoni.
8. Genus Chalcis Fabricius
(Figs. 59 - 65)
Chalcis Fabricius, 1787:201. Type species Chalcis sispes (Linnaeus) = Sphex sispes
Linnaeus; designated by Westwood, 1839.
Smiera Spinola, 1811:147. Type species Chalcis sispes Fabricius = Sphex sispes
Linnaeus; designated by Curtis, 1833.
Smicra Spinola, 1837:1. Unjustified emendation of Smiera.
Genus Chalcis was generally known as Smicra for a long time until Gahan & Fagan
(1923:31,133) changed its name to Chalcis. With the exception of Girault, 1930,
Schmitz, 1946a,b and Schremmer, 1960, all authors later on used the name
Chalcis. Main revisionary work was done on the North America (Burks, 1940),
European (Bouček, 1952), Palearctic (Nikol΄skaya, 1960) and Japanese species
(Habu, 1960 and 1962).
Diagnosis: The genus can be identified by the following characters; antennal sockets
slightly apart from each other; frontoclypeal suture faintly visible or depressed, antennae
59
long, antennal club three segmented; forewing with marginal vein longer than
postmarginal vein; metacoxae longer than wide, cylindrical; metafemur with small teeth
on anterior margin; abdominal petiole long, abdomen glubose.
Biology: Puparia of Stratiomyiidae, Diptera have been reported as hosts of this genus.
Members of this genus oviposit the larvae of their hosts when the larvae come to the
surface of water for air, and are often dragged by them under the surface (Schremmer,
1960). Cowan (1979) has reported that some North American species of Chalcis oviposit
into the stratiomyiid eggs.
Distribution: Americas (about 15 spp.) Palearctic region (3 spp.), Africa (1 spp.), South
Asia (2 spp.) and Australia (1 spp.) (Bouček, 1988).
8.1 Chalcis gibsoni Narendran
(Figs. 59 - 65)
Chalcis gibsoni Narendran 1987:7-9, ♀. India, Coimbatore (BSRI)
Diagnosis: The species can be identified by having yellowish spot on either side of the
scrobe of eye (Fig. 59a); metacoxae exceeding the length of base of abdomen (Fig. 65a);
metafemur slender, width 1/3x its length, anterior margin with 11 teeth, spaced widely
apart (Fig. 65b); petiolated abdomen with an anteriorly upturned basal tooth and short
carinae running parallel to the length of petiole (Fig. 61).
Description of Male (n=1)
Length: 6.7mm
Colour: Predominently Black; eyes dark brown; antennae black; two yellowish white
spots on either sides of scrobe, half the length of scape; femur of foreleg with yellowish
brown colour apically, tibia with whitish yellow inner margin from base to apex;
mesofemur with apex brownish yellow, tibia with outer side of the base yellowish;
metafemur with a basal and apical yellowish patch, tibia completely black; tarsi of all
legs light brown; metafemur with whitish yellow spot on the posterior end of inner
60
margin; tegulae whitish yellow; forewing with a brownish tinge, premarginal, marginal
and postmarginal vein dark brown.
Head: wider than long; antennal sockets almost half the length of scape above the
clypeus (Fig. 59a); space between the clypeus and antennal base convex; preorbital carina
faintly visible on the inner sides of the eyes moving below the antennae, rugose scrobe
reaching the anterior ocellus (Fig. 43); antennal scape broader at the apex, 1.3x longer
than the length of the scrobe; frontogenal sulcus ecarinte; face with long pubescent hair
(Fig. 59); genotemporal margin without a furrow; POL 0.75x OOL.
Mesosoma: narrower than head, punctation deep and widely spaced; pronotum covered
with long and dense pubescence laterally and dorsally; mesosoma convex, with a central
furrow not reaching the anterior or posterior margin of the mesonotum; forewings with
postmarginal vein 1.25x longer than marginal vein, stigmal vein with a distinct uncus
(Fig. 60); scutellum convex, with two very short upturned teeth posteriorly, propodeum
easily visible from above (Fig. 64); metacoxa with two basal carinae and dorso basal
tooth, exceeding the base of abdomen (Fig. 65); metafemur slender, width 1/3rd its length,
anterior margin with 11 teeth, spaced widely apart (Fig. 63, 65).
Metasoma: Petiolated abdomen with an upturned basal tooth and short carinae running
parallel to the length of petiole (Fig. 61, 65); T1 with a basal fovea with two lateral ridges,
bulging posteriorly (Fig. 61, 65); T2-5 shining with sparse punctation and hairs laterally
(Fig. 61); T6 shagreen with sparse pubescence.
Female: Unknown
Material Examined: Pakistan: KPK; Peshawar. 1♂. 34° 1.2’N, 71° 28.4’E. 12.iv.2013.
Toheed Iqbal.
Distribution: India (Kerala, Coimbatore, Jeupore), Java, Nepal (Narendran, 1989) and
Pakistan (Peshawar, new record).
Host: Unknown
61
Comments: Chalcis gibsoni was described by Narendran (1989). No synonymy of the
species is available. The species can be identified with the help of the following
characters; either side of the scrobe of eye with yellowish spot; mesosoma convex, with a
central pitted furrow not reaching the anterior or posterior margin of the mesonotum;
metacoxa with two basal carinae and apical dorso basal tooth, exceeding the length of
base of abdomen; metafemur slender, width 1/3rd its length, anterior margin with 11 teeth,
spaced widely apart; petiolated abdomen with an anteriorly upturned basal tooth and
short carinae running parallel to the length of petiole.
Comparison of our specimen with the key and literature (Narendran, 1989), shows that
the metafemur has 11 denticles which is in contradiction with the literature showing 19
denticles on metafemur. The reason of this difference could be the number of denticles on
metafemur of male and female. In current studies we have one male specimen whereas in
original description female is described. The species is reported from India, Java and
Nepal. From Pakistan, genus Chalcis and species Chalcis gibsoni is reported for the first
time from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. More collection from similar locations may increase the
number of specimen for comparison with the literature. Female of the species is unknown
and the only male species available is described here. Host record of the species is also
not available.
62
Tribe Brachymeriini
Ashmead (1904: 248) first established this tribe as Chalcidini, which was renamed by
Mani (1938:49) as Brachymerariae. Steffan (1959: 288) lateron restricted as a subfamily
with three tribes i.e, Brachemeriini, Phasgophorini and Cratocentrini. Among all these
tribe, we have only one tribe Brachymeriini in our collection from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
9. Genus Brachymeria Westwood
(Plates. 5 - 37)
Under Genus Brachymeria Westwood, Bouček (1992) has described 3 subgenera based
on his studies on Australasian species i.e,
A. Subgenus Brachymeria Westwood, s. str.
Brachymeria Westwood, in Stephens, 1829: 36. Type species Chalcis minuta
Fabricius designated by Westwood, 1839.
Tumidicoxa Girault, 1911(88):378. Type species Tumidicoxa nigara Girault; by
original designation.
Pseudepitelia Girault, 1913a(136):104. Type species Pseudepitelia rubrifemur
Girault; by original designation.
Brachepitelia Giralut, 1913a(136):106. Type species Brachepitelia rubripes
Girault; by original designation.
Tumidicoxoides Girault, 1913b(158):86. Type species Tumidicoxoides
kurandaensis Girault; by original designation.
Tumedicoxella Girault, 1913b(175):74 (as subgenus Tumedicoxa). Type species
Tumedicoxa (Tumedicoxilla nigricoxa). Girault; by original designation.
Neobrachymeria Masi, 1929:196-198 (as subgenus Brachymeria). Brachymeria
confaloneirii Masi by original designation.
B. Subgenus Australochalcis Girault syn. Bouček
Australochalcis Girault, 1939(457):326. Type species Australochalcishumilicrus
Girault; by original designation.
63
C. Subgenus Microchalcis syn. Bouček
Microchalcis Girault, 1915(245):328. Type species Microchalcis atricorpus
Girault; by original designation.
D. Subgenus Dirhinomorpha Girault & Dodd syn. Bouček
Dirhinomorpha Girault & Dodd, in Girault, 1915(245):327. Type species
Dirrhinomorpha angusta Girault & Dodd; by original designation.
More details on synonymy, biology and distribution of Brachymeria are provided
by Bouček (1992).
Diagnosis: The genus can be identified with the help of the following characters; head
with deep scrobal cavity deep, smooth, carinate margins; frontogenal sutures well
carinate; preorbital and postorbital carinae present; antennae with scape and pedicel
short; pronotum with thin row of minute hairs; apex of scutellum rounded, jetting over
propodeum or forming two lobes; propodeum short, carinate with irregular carinae;
metafemur well developed with sparse teeth on ventral margin; abdomen oval or conical.
Distribution: The species has been reported from all over the world especially in warmer
climates i.e, Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, North America and South America (Habu,
1962).
Biology: According to Bouček (1992), this species included in this genus are mostly
parasites of holometabolus insect’s pupae, especially Lepidoptera but some of them also
attach Coleoptera, Diptera and Hymenoptera. Some of them are obligatory or occasional
hyperparasites, attacking primary parasites i.e, tachinid, braconid or ichneumonid or their
hosts, others are solely primary parasitoids.
Hosts:
This genus is highly speciose with 8 species reported new from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
province of Pakistan. All the species are new records for Paksitan.
64
Key to species of Genus Brachymeria of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
1. Preorbital carina not clearly visible (Plate 7); apex of scrobe reaching front
ocellus (Plate 7a); metatibia brown or black with apex and base red (Plate 8a, 9a)
……………………................................................................... alternipes (Walker)
1΄. Preorbital carina distinct; scrobe not reaching front ocellus (Plate 1b, 3d);
metatibia different from above ……………………………………………....….. 2
2. Base and apex of metatibia yellow, median portion black (Plate 11a)
…………………………………………………..………… apicicornis (Cameron)
2΄. Base and apex of metatibia different from above ……………………………..…3
3. Metacoxae with a zone of trichoid sensille on inner ventral area (Plate 27a, 30a);
abdomen glubose (Plate 26a); metatibia with black base extending towards apex
through ventral margin with an extension towards dorsal side from mid ventral
margin (Plate 27b)..…….………………………..….….. marginiscutis (Cameron)
3΄. Metacoxa without a zone of trichoid sensillae on inner ventral area; abdomen not
glubose; metatibia with different colour pattern..………………………………. 4
4. Abdomen not glubose (Plate 14a); antennal club distinctly less than twice the
length of preceding segment (15a) ……………………....…. jambolana (Gahan)
4΄. Abdomen glubose; antennal club and other characters different from above
……….................................................................................................................. 5
5. Antennae unusually swollen towards the tip (Plate 35a – 36a)
….......................................................................................…. thracis (Crawford)
5΄. Antennae not swollen towards the tip ………………………...………………… 6
6. Preorbital carina indistinct (Plate 32a); scape shorter than combined length of
antennal segments 4-7 (Plate 32a); scutellum high in lateral view, distinctly
declined posteriorly (Plate 33a) …………………………… secundaria (Ruschka)
6΄. Preorbital carina distinct (Plate 20a); scape and other characters different than
above ………………………………………………………………..……….……7
7. Metafemur 1.8x to slightly more than twice longer than wide with angulate dorsal
end; metafemur red with apex white or yellowish white (Plate 25a) …...
……………………………………………………………… podagrica (Fabricius)
65
7΄. Metafemur 1.8x or less longer than wide, without angulate dorsal end; metafemur
usually black with yellow apex (Plate 18a, 19a) ……...……… minuta (Linnaeus)
9.1. Brachymeria alternipes (Walker)
(Plates 7-10)
Chalcis alternipes Walker, 1871:49, ♂. Hong Kong (BMNH).
Diagnosis: The species can be seperated from other species of the genus by having very
weak or indistinct preorbital carina (Plate 7); scrobe reaching the anterior ocellus (Plate
7a), metafemur black and without any patch except a very small yellowish white patch at
the very end of femur (Plate 8a, 9a).
Description of Male (n=1)
Length: 4.3 mm.
Colour: Predominently Black. Head completely black with antennae and eyes blackish
brown; mesonotum completely black with dark brown tegulae; propodeum and
metanotum completely black; metafemur completely black except a small whitish yellow
patch at the posterior margin of the femur; metatibia light brown in colour at the base and
whitish yellow at the tip and black at the middle; fore and meso legs yellowish black with
whitish yellow tarsi; wings hyaline and transparent.
Head: Head 1.4x wider than long; head slightly wider than the pronotum (Plate 7);
anterior ocellus just above the antennal scrobe and length of scape equal to the antennal
scrobe (Plate 7a); scrobe shiny and with interantennal projection that makes a carina at
the end (Plate 7b); POL 5x OOL; anterior and posterior ocellus dark brown; vertex broad;
preorbital carina very weak or indistinct (Plate 7); postorbital carina distinct; frontogenal
sulcus prominent with 2 semicircular carinae in the right side of the carina; genotemporal
margin with a carina that starts from behind the posterior ocellus and joins the clypeus at
anterior margin of the head; antennal base present much above the clypeus, almost half
the length of scape (Plate 7); length of flagellum almost little less than 3x the length of
the scape.
66
Mesosoma: Anteriorly pronotum with a carina that starts from both the lateral sides,
come up and meet narrowly with each other in the middle of the pronotum; pronotum
slightly broader than the head but narrower than the mesonotum (Plate 8); mesosoma
with close dense punctations and silvery pubescence (Plate 8, 10); mesosoma with dark
brown tegulae (Plate 10a); forewing transparent with yellowish brown marginal vein at
wing margin, marginal vein 2.5x the post marginal vein, stigmal vein shorter than post
marginal vein and with a distinct uncus (Plate 8b); scutellum slightly emerginate over the
propodeum with rounded apex (Plate 8c); propodeum with deep cells and carinae very
strong, spiracles semi vertical in position (Plate 10b); anterior margin of metafemur with
a an enlarged tooth and a number of small spaced teeth (Plate 9b).
Metasoma: T1 with a deep pit on anterior margin with two small ridges, length of pit
almost 1.25x its width, shining, glubose (Plate 8); T1 almost half the size of entire
abdomen; T2 with small punctations and covers 0.54x the remaining part of the abdomen
(T2-7) (Plate 8e); T2-7 small in size, rugose and punctuate with small pubescence at the
lateral margins.
Female: Unknown
Material Examined: Pakistan: KPK; Swabi. 1♂. 34° 11΄N, 72° 19.5΄E. 20.viii.2004.
Inayatullah.
Distribution: India (Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tamil Nadu), China (Hong Kong)
(Noyes, 2014) and Pakistan (Swabi, New record).
Hosts
Primary Host: Antheraea provlei (Saturniidae, Lepideptera) (Noyes, 2014).
Parasitoid Host: Blepharipa zebina (Tachinidae: Diptera) (Noyes, 2014).
Comments: Brachymeria alternipes was described by Walker (1871). Diagnostic
characters of the species include very weak or indistinct preorbital carina, scrobe
reaching the anterior ocellus and metafemur black and without any patch except a very
small yellowish white patch at the very end of metafemur.
The only male specimen was collected from Swabi area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
province of Pakistan by using insect collection sweep net over low vegetation and
grasses. The area was surveyed many times but no other specimen of the same species
67
was collected. This shows that the species is very rare. Brachymeria alternipes was
identified by using literature provided by Narendran (1989). Distribution record of the
species shows that it was reported from different localities in India and China (Noyes,
2014); however Brachymeria alternipes is first record from Swabi district of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Biology of the species has not been studied. Host record of the
species shows that it is parasitoid of Antheraea provlei (Saturniidae, Lepideptera) and
hyperparasitoid of Blepharipa zebina (Tachinidae: Diptera)(Noyes, 2014). More
collection of the species is required to differentiate between the males and females.
Rearing of the species should be done in lab on a wide range of hosts and tested for its
efficacy against its particular host. If successful in lab, the parasitoid should be tested
against its hosts in field condition for mass release of the parasitoid if implemented
successfully in field.
9. 2. Brachymeria apicicornis (Cameron)
(Plates. 11 - 13)
Onchochalcis apicicornis Cameron 1911; 3, ♀. (BMNH).
Brachymeria apicicornis Joseph, Narendran & Joy, 1973:174.
Diagnosis: Pre- and postorbital carinae indistinct; thorax with dull and narrow interstices
(Plate 13a); metatibia with yellow base and apex with median part black (Plate 11a).
Description of Female (n = 6)
Length: 3.6 - 4.2mm.
Colour: Head black with eyes liver brown, ocellus brown; scape pedicel and flagellum
blackish brown except the antennal club which is rusty brown; mesonotum black with
yellowish tegulae encircled by dark brown; fore- and mesolegs with coxa, trochanter and
femur blackish brown except the basal part of femur which is light brown; fore- and mid
tibia with blackish brown part in the middle, surrounded by whitish yellow colour on
apical and basal part; tarsi of fore tibia brownish and meso leg whitish yellow with apical
claw of fore and meso legs brownish black; hind leg with coxa, trochanter and femur
completely black with apical part of femur yellow; basal and apical part of hind tibia
68
yellow with intermediate part black; tarsi of hind leg whitish yellow with brownish apical
claw; abdomen completely black.
Head: Head slightly broader than thorax; POL 5x OOL; pre and post orbital carina very
weak or indistinct (Plate 12); genotemporal carina distinct (Plate 12a); frontogenal carina
distinct; antennae situated 1/3 rd the length of scape, above the clypeus with a bulging
round spot just below the inter antennal projection (Plate 12b); shining scrobe reaching
the anterior ocellus, scape not reaching the anterior ocellus (Plate 12c); first four
segments including pedicel almost equal to the length of scape, antennae short.
Mesosoma: Anterior margin of pronotum with a lateral carinae that come to the middle
and joins narrowly, with very small punctations; mesosoma shiny with dense punctations,
sparsely pubescent (Plate 13a); forewing with marginal vein 1.35x longer than post
marginal vein, stigmal vein shorter than the post marginal vein with distinct uncus (Plat
11b); scutellum with a rounded tip, slightly emerginate over the propodeum (Plate 13b);
propodeum with strong carinae and spiracles semi horizontal (at an obtuse angle) (Plate
13c).
Metasoma: T1 shining with a small fovea at anterior margin without carina or prominent
ridge; T1 almost half the length of the abdomen, glubose and not arcuate posteriorly; T2
with shagreen anterior margin and shining posterior margin covering 0.19x of the whole
abdomen; T3-6 shagreen and slightly pubescent; epipygium smooth, pygostylus visible.
Male: Unknown
Material Examined
Type Material Examined: Brachymeria apicicornis Cameron, 1911 (Onchochalcis)
Lealumoega Fou. College Upolu Isl. Western Samao. Vii. 1977. D. Smart. Colr. DET.
1♀. T.C. Narendran, 2002. Pakistan: KPK; Mingora, Swat. 2♀. 34° 46΄N, 72° 21΄E.
19.vi.2013. Toheed Iqbal. Nowshehra. 1♀. 34° 1.11΄N, 71° 44.3΄E. 4.vi.2013. Toheed
Iqbal. Peshawar. 2♀. 34° 01΄N, 71° 28΄E. 28.iv.2013. Toheed Iqbal.
Distribution: Java, Borneo, India, Sulawesi (Noyes, 2014) and Pakistan (Swat,
Nowshehra, Peshawar, New Records).
Host: Unknown
69
Comments: Brachymeria apicicornis was described by Cameron (1911) as Onchochalcis
apicicornis. Later Narendran & Joy (1973) named it Brachymeria apicicornis. Diagnostic
features of the species include indistinct pre- and postorbital carinae; thorax with dull and
narrow interstices; metatibia with yellow base and apex with median part black.
Brachymeria apicicornis was identified by following available literature and comparing
with paratypes at Bohart Museum of Entomoligy, University of California, Davis, USA.
The species has been reported from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and India (Noyes,
2014). This species is reported for the first time from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Swat,
Nowshehra and Peshawar) and is new record for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan.
Brachymeria apicicornis is collected from plain areas of the province Khyber
Pakhtukhwa Pakistan and is new record for the area. It was collected with the help of
sweep net from low vegetation during spring and summer season. No data present on the
biology of the species. Host record of the species is not available. Male of the species is
unknown. Research needs to be done on the biology of this parasitoid. Moreover, the
insect can be reared in the lab and tested against different insects pests.
9.3. Brachymeria jambolana Gahan
(Plates 14 - 17)
Brachymeria jambolana Gahan, 1942; 41, ♀. India (USNM).
Diagnosis: The species can be identified with the help of the following characters,
lacking entirely tubercle on inner margin of metacoxae; metatibia immaculate yellow
(Plate 16a, 17a); antennal club distinctly less than twice the length of the preceeding
segment (Plate 15a).
Description of Female: (n = 2)
Length: 3.3 - 4.2 mm
Colour: Black. Head with compound eyes rusty brown, antennae liver brown, ocellus
reddish brown; mesonotum with deep punctures and silvery pubescene; tegulae dark
brown with yellowish borders; wings hyaline with long brown marginal vein at wing
margin; fore and mid coxa and trochanter completely blackish brown, femora of both legs
blackish brown except the apical margin which is yellow and the same yellow colour
70
reaches till the tarsi in both the legs; hind coxa, trochanter and femur completely black
except the apical margin which is yellowish; base of hind tibia black which anteriorly
remains dark for the entire tibial length, posterior margin of the tibia yellow, tarsi of hind
tibia yellowish just like fore and meso legs with a brownish claw.
Head: wider than prothorax; POL 2.25x OOL; deep grove in the malar space (Plate 15b);
preorbital carina present but too weak, post orbital carina distinct (Plate 15c); antennae
situated highly above clypeus, distance between antennal base and clypeus equals 1/3rd
the length of scape; antennal scrobe deep and reaches the anterior ocellus (Plate 15);
length of scape almost equals the length of scrobe (Plate 15d).
Mesosoma: Anterior margin of prothorax with lateral carinae not joining dorsally;
mesosoma with deep punctation and silvery pubescence (Plate 14b); tegulae dark brown
with yellow borders; scutellum slightly overhanging over the propodeum and pubescent
with two upturned rounded lobes at the apex (Plate 16b); propodeum with deep carinae
and spiracles present semi vertical or at an obtuse angle; wings with postmarginal vein
1/3rd the length of marginal vein and stigmal vein shorter than post marginal vein (Plate
14c); metafemur with an enlarged tooth at anterior margin with largely spaced small teeth
afterwards (Plate 16c); no tooth present on inner margin of the metafemur.
Metasoma: T1 smooth and shiny and with a small fovea without any carinae or ridges
around it, glubose not arcuate, covers almost half of the abdomen (16d); T2 with small
pits at anterior margin and rugae posteriorly and slightly pubescent laterally; T3-5
decreasing in size accordingly and with small pits with pubescence laterlly; T6 larger than
T 3-5 combine, but slightly smaller than T2, with pits and pubescence; epipygeum just
above the ovipositor with few stout hairs but comparatively longer than T6.
Male: (n = 6). Males are similar to female in general appearance and morphology. They
have body size smaller than the females and have rounded abdominal end.
Material Examined
Type Material Examined: Indonesia: I. Jaya, Freeport Concession, Siewa camp 43m,
32° 4΄ S 136° 23΄ E, 4-11.IV.1998, R. R. Sneiling MT. DET: T.C. Narendran, ♀. B.
jambolana, 2002. Borneo: Sarawak, S. Gunung Buda, 64km S. Limbang, 4° 12΄ N 114°
56΄E. 18. XI.1996. S. L. Heydon & Fung. DET: T.C. Narendran, ♀. B. jambolana, 2002.
71
Pakistan: KPK; Peshawar. 1♂. 34° 3.5΄N, 71° 32.1΄E. 9.vi.2012. Toheed Iqbal.
Nowshehra. 1♂. 34° 00.37΄N, 71° 56.2΄E. 22.v.2012. Toheed Iqbal. Charsadda. 4♂. 34°
5.06΄N, 71° 50.1΄E. 5.vii.2011. Toheed Iqbal.
Distribution: Bangladesh, India (Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu), Indonesia
(Bali, Java, Sumatra) (Noyes, 2014) and Pakistan (Charsadda, Nowshehra and Peshawar,
New Records).
Hosts
Primary Hosts: Sarcophaga misera (Sarcophagidae: Diptera), Danaus sp. (Danaidae:
Lepidoptera), Orgyia postica (Lymantrridae: Lepidoptera), Carea subtilis (Noctuidae:
Lepidoptera), Graphium agamemnon, Graphium doson, Papilio sp., Papilio Agamemnon
(Papilionidae: Lepidoptera) (Noyes, 2014).
Parasitoid Hosts: Carcelia sp. (Tachinidae: Diptera) (Noyes, 2014).
Plant Associates: Michelia champaca (Family Magnoliaceae), Eugenia jambolana
(Family Myrtaceae), Citrus sp. (Family Rutaceae) (Noyes, 2014).
Comments: Brachymeria jambolana was described by Gahan (1942). According to
Gahan 1942 and Narendran 1989, the species is very much close to Brachymeria
euploeae. B. jambolana can be differentiated from B. euploeae by lacking entirely
tubercle on inner margin of metacoxae; fore and median tibia immaculate yellow. B.
jambolana also resembles B. albotibialis Ashmead but it differs by having a tooth near
the posterior base of the metafemur.
In our collection, we examined 6 males. Additionally, we examined and described female
paratypes present in Bohart Museum of Entomology, University of California, Davis,
USA. By following literature and comparing male and female specimens we found that
the species can be diffentiated with the help of following characters; lacking entirely
tubercle on inner margin of metacoxae; fore and median tibia immaculate yellow;
antennal club distinctly less than twice the length of the preceeding segment; abdomen
acuminate, not glubose. Distribution record shows that this species is reported from
Bangladesh, India and Indonesia. The species was collected from Nowshehra and
Charsadda areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan and is reported as new record from
this location and new to the record of Pakistan. Published host record of B. jambolana
72
shows that it is parasitoid of Carcelia sp., which is also reported to be a parasitoid.
Number of hosts mentioned above show that it has wide range of hosts and can be reared
in lab and released in the field for the control of reported lepidopterous and dipterous
pests. Moreover, the species can also be tested against other insects’ pests also.
9.4. Brachymeria marginiscutis (Cameron)
(Plates 26 - 30)
Onochalcis marginiscutis Cameron, 1907b; 168. ♀. India (BMNH).
Diagnosis: Clypeus distinct with upper margin not fused with the frons; apex of
scutellum rounded; preorbital carina faintly developed; postorbital carina not reaching the
genotemporal margin and an unpitted median smooth longitudinal area on the scutellum.
Description of Female (n= 5)
Length: 5.3 - 6.8mm
Colour: Body and antennae black; compound eyes dirty brown; ocellus dark brown;
meso and metasoma completely black; tegulae yellow at apex and dark brown at the
bases; forewing with dark brown marginal vein 2x the length of dark brown post
marginal vein, stigmal vein with distinct uncus but shorter than postmarginal vein; wings
hyaline; fore and middle legs with coxa, trochanter completely black and femur black at
base but apically bright yellow; tibia and tarsi of fore and meso legs also bright yellow
with brown apical claw; hind coxa, trochanter, and femur completely black with apical
margin of femur yellowish; anterior margin of metafemur with small teeth spaced apart,
basal tooth absent on metafemur; metatibia blackish at base, with anterior blackish
margin with carinae and posterior yellowish margin on the whole tibia; tarsi yellowish
with brown claw.
Head: Head 1.28x wider than its length (Plate 26); preorbital carina very weak, post
orbital carina present and distinct but does not meet the genotemporal magin (Plate 29a);
frontogenal carina distinct (Plate 28a); antenna high above the clypeus (Plate 28);
antennae with huge sensellae; scrobe smooth and reaches upto anterior ocellus, scape
reaches the anterior ocellus (Plate 28b); clypeus with clear borders, not fusing with the
73
frons; carina starts from posterior margin of the head, just behind the ocellus and another
carina running horizontal just above the point of attachment of head with mesosoma and
both join at the malar region.
Mesosoma: Anterior margin of pronotum with lateral carinae that do not meet over the
pronotum (Plate 29b); forewing with marginal vein at wing margin, marginal vein 1.25x
postmarginal vein with short stigmal vein with well defined uncus (Plate 26c); anteriorly
mesonotum with a median unpitted rougous horizontal space (Plate 26b, 27c); metacoxae
with a trichoid sensillae on ventral margin (Plate 27a); anterior margin of metafemur with
small teeth spaced apart, basal tooth absent on metafemur (Plate 27d, 30b); propodeum
with deep and strong carinae and spiracles in semi vertical position; anteriorly scutellum
with a horizontal unpitted rough area, rounded apicaly and emerginate over the
propodeum.
Metasoma: T1 smooth with a fovea at anterior margin of the metasoma (Plate 26a), space
between the opposite margins of the fovea is more than its length; T1 covers 0.602x the
length of abdomen, shiny and with slight pubescence laterally (Plate 26a); T2 with central
shiny area with pits and hairs laterally, slightly shagreen; T3-5 shagreen with few hairs
laterally and a single row of hairs at the center; T6 shagreen with pits and hairs, slightly
large in size than T2; epipygium short with a few hairs.
Male: (n = 4). Morphologically males are similar to females but they can be
differentiated from the females by rounded abdominal end and smaller body size.
Type Material Examined
Material Examined: Malaysia. Petaling Jaya, Selangor. 1♀. viii.1966, A.J. Beck Colr.
Petaling Jaya, Selangor. 2♀. 4.xii.1966. A.J. Beck Colr. Petaling Jaya, Selangor. 1♀.
1.12.1967, A.J. Beck Colr. Pakistan: KPK; Peshawar. 1♀, 4♂. 34° 00.34΄N, 71° 42.1΄E.
4.vi.2013. Amna Sadozai.
Distribution: India (Noyes, 2014), Malaysia and Pakistan (Peshawar, New Records).
Host: Pieris rapae (Pieridae: Lepidoptera) (New Record).
Comments: Brachymeria marginiscutis was described by Cameron (1907b) as
Onochalcis marginiscutis. Narendran (1986) later synonymised it under genus
74
Brachymeria. According to Narendran (1989) this species resembles Matsumurameria
group in having a trichoid sensilla on ventral side of metacoxae and the abdomen being
glubose, but the species can be separated by having a distinct clypeus with upper margin
not fused with the frons; apex of scutellum rounded; preorbital carina faintly developed;
postorbital carina not reaching the genotemporal margin and an unpitted median smooth
longitudinal area on the scutellum.
Brachymeria marginiscutis was identified with the help of available literature and
paratypes present in Bohart Museum of Entomology, University of California, Davis,
USA, but there is slight variation among the paratypes and our collection. Among the
differences, we have scutellum with horizontal, rough, unpitted area present on anterior
margin, whereas Narendran (1989) mentioned unpitted median with smooth longitudinal
area. The species is reported from India. In current study, we report the species from
Malaysia and Pakistan as new records. The species was collected from Pieris rapae
(Pieridae: Lepidoptera). This host is also a new record for this species as it was reared
and collected in lab from the Pieris rapae pupae.
9.5. Brachymeria minuta (Linnaeus)
(Figs. 18 - 21)
Vespa minuta Linnaeus 1767: 952, ♀.? Europe (?UZM)
Other known synonyms of the species are; Vespa femoralis Geoffroy (1785), Chalcis
pusilla Rossi (1787), Chalcis brevicornis Klug (1834), Chalcis scrobiculata Förster
(1859), Chalcis tricolor Förster (1859), Chalcis fumata Thompson (1875), Chalcis
prarplesia Crawford (1910), Chalcis jezoensis Matsumara (1912), Brachymeria
puttarensis Joseph, Narendran & Joy (1971) and Brachymeria (Brachymeria) minuta
Bouček (1988).
Diagnosis: The species can be differentiated mainly due to colour variation but besides
colour, the long abdomen with pointed ovipositor (Plate 18b); short antennae, hardly
reaching the labium (Plate 20b); labrum not fused with the frons; antenna with stout
funicle (Plate 18).
75
Description of Female (n = 6)
Length: 4.2 -5.8mm
Colour: Antennae and eyes black; ocellus blackish brown; mesosoma shining black;
tegulae bright yellow to dull yellow with base brown; fore and hind wings hyaline,
sometimes smoky or brownish; forewings with marginal vein brown or dark brown; hind
wing, base of submarginal vein yellowish, apex of submarginal and marginal vein brown;
fore meso and hind legs with coxae completely black, all trochanters brownish to black;
femora black with apical parts yellowish to whitish; in hind femur, the apical yellowish
colour extends to the inner part of the femur; fore tibia brownish yellow but whitish at
basal and outer apical part with blackish long patch at outer median part; mid tibia shiny
black with apex and bases whitish yellow; metatibia black with apical and prebasal parts
yellow or brownish yellow, basal part black or brownish black (rearely metatibia almost
wholly brownish); all tarsi yellow or brownish yellow; abdomen shiny black; lateral and
lateroposterior margins of tergites slightly reddish; sparse grayish white pubescence
present on the body.
Head: Head antero posteriorly narrow with distinctly pitted surface but pits gets more or
less sparse and small on anterior part of head, just below the postorbital carina (Plate 20,
21); preorbital carina more or less distinct; postorbital carina distinct (Plate 20a) and
reaches the hind margin of genotemporal margin; scrobe reaching the anterior ocellus;
interantennal projection narrow (Plate 20c); area below scrobal cavity impressed along
fronto-clypeal suture (Plate 20); frontogenal suture well carinated; POL 4x OOL;
antennae comparatively thick, scape just reaching the front ocellus (Plate 20, 21); length
of scape little shorter than the combined length of segments 4-6 (Plate 20b, 21a); segment
4 as long as wide (Plate 20b, 21a); segments 5-10 decreasing in length and increasing in
width apically; segment 4 and 5 have same length but slightly wider than its length.
Mesosoma: Mesosoma moderately pitted on dorsal side, interspaces of pits carinate,
smooth except faint microculpture on pronotum and anterior area of mesoscutum (Plate
18e); mesoscutellum high in lateral view, or declined posteriorly (Plate 19b), apical part
explanate and reflexed; apex of scutellum bilobed with upturned rounded tooth (Plate
18b), jetting over the propodeum (Plate18b); propodeum with a blunt tooth behind each
76
spiracle, tooth sometimes acute, sometimes not distinct; forewing with marginal vein
very long than post marginal vein (Plate 18d); forewing with stigmal vein more or less
tumid (swollen); marginal vein 11/2 as long as submarginal vein, post-marginal vein 2/5th
as long as marginal vein, 11/2x as long as stigmal vein (Plate 18d); stigmal vein relatively
wide; metacoxae rather densely, distinctly punctuate on ventral side, without
protuberance on inner ventral side; metafemur 13/5 - 14/5x as long as wide, rather sparsely,
finely pubescent and punctuate on outer side, with minute, sparse, pubescent punctures
on inner sides, one small blunt tooth at inner ventral side near base present, 11 – 13 teeth
on outer ventral margin of metafemur (Plate 18, 19).
Metasoma: Metasoma rather pointed posteriorly, more or less longer than the mesosoma
(Plate 18); T1 smooth (Plates 18); T2 with rather distinct microsculpture except on basal
and apical narrow areas and on ventrolateral areas, minutely sparsely punctuate and
pubescent at dorso basal areas; tergite 6 weakly pitted and sparsely bristled and with
distinct microsculpture; epipygium compressed from sides, but not carinate at the middle
(Plates 18c); ovipositor sheath visible in dorsal view, weakly densely punctuate.
Male: (n= 6). Males are similar to the females in general morphology and basic charaters
but males are slightly smaller in size than the females and have rounded abmen. Other
characters include antennae generally widened towards apex, funicle with trichoid
sensillae on ventral side.
Material Examined
Type Material Examined: India; Karnataka, Banglore 916km, 1-10.iii.1989. K.
Ghorpade C45. DET: ♀. B. minuta. Narendran 2002. Sri Lanka: Central Kandy Distr.
Gannoruwa Forest Area near Peradeniya, 7°17’N 80° 36’E, 13-14.viii.1999, M&J
Wasbauer. DET: ♀. B. minuta. Narendran 2002. Malaysia. Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
vii.1966. A.J. Beck Colr. DET: ♀. B. minuta. Narendran 2002. vi.1966. A. J. Beck Colr.
DET: 1♀, 3♂. B. minuta. Narendran 2002. 26.vii.1967. , A.J. Beck Colr. DET: ♂. B.
minuta. Narendran 2002. Pakistan: KPK; Peshawar. 2♀. 34° 3.5΄N, 71° 32.1΄E.
9.vi.2012. Toheed Iqbal. Peshawar. 1♀. 8.x.2008. M. Nawaz. Charsadda. 1♀. 34°
5.06΄N, 71° 50.1΄E. 5.vii.2011. Toheed Iqbal. Skardu. 1♀. 35° 18΄N, 75° 36΄E..
7.viii.2008. Fahad Shah. Chitral. 2♂. 30° 50΄N, 71° 46΄E. 25.viii.2011. Fakhruddin.
77
Distribution: Australia (Queensland), Bosnia Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Canary Islands,
Caucasus, Croatia, Czech Republic, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, Europe, France, Germany,
Hungary, India (Karnatka, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal), Israel, Italy
(Sardinia), Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia (Peninsular), Moldova, Netherlands, Papua New
Guinea, Poland, Romania, Russia (Bashkir ASSR, Moscow, Primor΄ye Kray), Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain (Balearics), Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Tselinograd Obl.,
Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom (Kingdom, Scotland, Wales), USSR (Central Asia,
Siberia), Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia (Montenegro, Serbia) (Noyes, 2014) and Pakistan
(Peshawar, Chitral, Skardu, Charsadda, New Records).
Hosts
Primary Hosts:!Calopepla leayana (Chrysomelidae: Coleoptera), Calliphora vomitora
and Lucilia auprina (Caliphoridae: Diptera), Sarcophagidae sp. (Sarcophagidae:
Diptera), Cimbex femorata (Cimbicidae: Hymenoptera), Diprion sp. and Diprion
polytomum (Diprionidae: Hymenoptera), Tyria jacobaeae (Arctiidae: Lepidoptera),
Aproaerema modicella (Gelechiidae: Lepidoptera), Gegenes nostrodamus (Hesperiidae:
Lepidoptera), Dendrolimus sibiricus, Dendrolimus spectabilis and Melacosoma Neustria
(Lasiocampidae: Lepidoptera), Virachola livia (Lycaenidae: Lepidoptera), Dasychira
fascelina, Euproctis phaeorrhoea, Euproctis similis, Leucoma salicis, Lymantria dispar,
Ocneria dispar, Orgyia antique, Porthetria dispar and Stilpnotia salicis (Lymantriidae:
Lepidoptera), Earias insulana (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera), Aporia crataegi and Pieris
brassicae (Pieridae: Lepidoptera), Archips xylosteanus, Clysia ambiguella, Lobesia
botrana, Polychrosis botrana, Tortrix viridana (Tortricidae: Lepidoptera), Yponomeuta
malinelus and Yponomeuta padellus (Yponomeutidae: Lepidoptera) (Noyes, 2014).
Parasitoid Hosts: Agria affinis, Agria mamillata, Parasarcophaga brevicornis,
Parasarcophaga dux, Pseudosarcophaga mamillata, Ravinia striata, Sarcophaga sp. ,
Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis, Sarcophaga harpax, Sarcophaga hirtipes, Sarcophaga
melanura, Sarcophaga pseudoscoparia and Sarcophaga uliginosa (Sarcophagidae:
Diptera), Bessa selecta, Echinomyia fera, Eurysthaea scutellaris, Exorista larvarum,
Masicera zimini, Nemorilla floralis, Phebelia glauca and Stumaria scutellata
(Tachinidae: Diptera) (Noyes, 2014).
78
Plant Associates: Arachis hypogaea and Glycine max (Family Fabaceae), Quercus suber
(Family Fagaceae) and Populus sp. (Family Salicaceae) (Noyes, 2014).
Comments: Brachymeria minuta was described by Linnaeus (1767) as Vespa minuta. It
was synonmised by Bouček (1988) as B. minuta. The species can be differentiated mainly
due to colour variation but besides colour, the long abdomen with pointed ovipositor;
bilobed scutellum with upturned rounded tooth; forewing with marginal vein very long
than post marginal vein; forewing with stigmal vein more or less tumid (swollen); short
antennae, hardly reaching the labium; labrum not fused with the frons; antenna with stout
funicle.
Brachymeria minuta was collected from different ecological zones of province Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan from grassy and low vegetation through insect collection sweep
net. It is worldwide-distributed species, which shows that it is among the successful
natural enemies and can be applied for effective biological control of insects’ pests. This
species has many hosts mainly Lepidoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera.
Between Diptera and Hymenoptera, this species is reported to be hyperparasitoid of
different parasitoids (Noyes, 2014) which means that if the species is applied as natural
enemy, may sometimes lead to improper control of the pests, as it may not effectively
control the pest population due to hyperparasitism. The species was identified with the
help available literature and paratypes present at Bohart Museum of Entomology, UC
Davis, USA. Description and keys provided by different authors fit in to our specimen.
The species are reported new records from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan.
79
9.6. Brachymeria podagrica (Fabricius)
(Plates 22 - 25)
Chalcis podagrica Fabricius 1787;148, ♂. India Tamil Nadu Tranquebar (UZM).
Brachymeria (Matsumurameria) aligarhensis Husain & Agarwal, 1982; 16,499, ♀. India
Uttar Pardesh (ZDAMU).
Other known synonyms include, Chalcis fonscolombei Dufour (1841), Chalcis alphius
Walker (1846b), Chalcis xerxena Walker (1846c), Chalcis amenocles Walker (1846c),
Brachymeria pulchripes Holmgren (1868), Chalcis mansueta Walker (1871), Chalcis
callipus Kirby (1883), Chalcis eccentrica Cameron (1897), Chalcid mikado Cameron
(1888), Chalcis borneanus Cameron (1905), Tumidicoxoides kurandaensis Girault
(1913b), Tumidicoxoides paucipunctatus Girault (1915), Chalcis dipterophaga Girault &
Dodd (in Girault 1915), Chalcis neglecta Masi (1916), Chalcis vegai Girault (1924),
Brachymeria becarii Masi (1929), Chalcis garutianus Günther (1936), Brachymeria
(Matsumurameria) aligarhensis Husain & Agarwal (1982).
Diagnosis: The species can be differentiated from other species by having metafemur 1.8
to slightly more than 2x longer than wide (Plate 23); interstices of thoracic dorsum
varying from highly carinate to smooth spaces; does not have an inner basal tooth;
metafemur red with apex white or yellowish white (Plate 25a).
Description of Female (n=8)
Length: 2.8-3.5mm
Colour: Predominantly Black. Antennae black with basal part of scape dark brown;
compound eyes brownish black; ocellus dark brown; mesosoma shiny black; tegulae
yellowish or whitish with brown bases; forewing and hind wing hyaline; forewing with
submarginal vein light brown, marginal and post marginal vein brown; hind wing with
yellowish submarginal and light brown marginal vein; dorsum shiny black with dark
brown epipygium; ventral margins of abdominal tergites dark brown; coxae of fore and
mid leg black, trochanter dark brown to blackish brown, femur and tibia dark brown with
light brown bases and apices whitish yellow; metacoxae, trochanter and femur liver
brown to dark brown with a small yellowish white patch on metafemur apically;
80
metatibia with blackish brown to blackish base and mid tibia, sub basal part with a yellow
spot and posterior part apical margin yellowish white while anterior part of tibial apex
dark brown to blackish in colour; tarsi of all the legs whitish yellow to yellow with apical
claw dark brown.
Head: slightly broader than mesosoma (Plate 22); POL 1.4x OOL; antennae with thin
basal segments, gradullay increasing in length till 7th segment and then gradually
decreasing in size till it reaches the apex with bristle like hairs (Plate 23a); scrobe and
scape reaching the anterior ocellus (Plate 23b); preorbital carina distinct, meets faintly
with frontogenal sulcus; postorbital carina distinct and meets the genotemporal margin
faintly; length of scape 2x the space between the clypeus and the base of antennae.
Mesosoma: Pronotum with a very strong carina antriorly that comes up to the level of
ocellus but do not meet in the center, slightly narrower than head, deeply pitted (Plate
22b); mesonotum with punctation deep but gaps between them (Plate 22b); forewing with
a long submarginal vein, marginal vein 2.5x the postmarginal vein and stigmal vein
shorter than postmarginal with distinct uncus (Plate 22a 25b); scutellum with deep
punctations spaced apart, emerginate over the propodeum, bilobed, lobes directed
upwards (Plate 24a); metacoxae narrow, with a carina on posterior basal part; metafemur
with a blunt tooth on the inner basal part, anteriorly with widely spaced teeth, gap
between the two anterior teeth 1.75x the gap between 4th and 5th teeth on femur, 9 - 10
teeth present, sparsely hairy (Plate 25).
Metasoma: T1 with a shallow pit anteriorly, length of the pit much less than its width,
shiny with posterior margin slightly arcuate (Plate 24b, 25c); T1 covers almost half of the
mesosoma (Plate 24c, 25c); T2 shining anteriorly with very minute dots and lightly
pubescent laterally (Plate 24d); T3-5 extremely short, T5 almost 2x T4 (Plate 25); T6 with
fine rugae and sparsely hairy; epipygium covers about 0.28 th part of the abdomen (Plate
24e).
Male: (n = 2). Males were similar to the description of the females but were different
from its males by having small size and abdomen rounded posteriorly.
81
Material Examined
Type Material Examined: Malaysia; Kedah, Pantai Kok, Palau Langkawi. 6°22´N
99°42´E. 2♀. 19-21.vi.1996. S. L. Heydon & Fung. Kedah, Pantai Kok, Palau Langkawi.
6°22´N 99°42´E. 1♀19-21.vi.1996. S. L. Heydon & Fung. India: Karnataka, Banglore
916 km. ♀. 1-10.iii.1989. K Ghorpade C45. Pakistan; KPK, Peshawar. 3♀. 34° 3.5´N,
71° 32.1´E. 9.vi.2012. Toheed Iqbal. Skardu. 1♀. 35° 18΄N, 75° 36΄E. 22.vii.2008. Fahad
Shah. Mardan. 2♂. 34° 18.3΄N, 71° 02.5΄E. 01.x.2013. Inayatullah.
Distribution: Afrotropical, Australasian, Australia (Nothern Territory, Queensland),
Bangladesh, Bomeo, Brazil (Goiás), Bulgaria, Canada (Alberta), Caucasus, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, Europe, France, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Hungary, India
(Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh), Indonesia (Java, Bali),
Indopacific, Iran, Israel, Italy (Sicily), Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia (Peninsular), Mauritius,
Mexico, Mongolia, Nearctic, Netherlands, North Africa, China (Hong Kong),
Philippines, Romania, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Sweden,
Thailand, Tunisia, Ukraine, USA (Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida,
Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico,
Oklahoma and Texas), USSR, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe (Noyes, 2014) and
Pakistan (Peshawar, Skardu and Mardan, New Records).
Hosts
Primary Hosts: Calliphora sp., Calliphora colaradiensis, Callitroga macellaria,
Chochliomyia macellaria, Chrysoma albiceps, Lucilia sp., Lucilia caesar, Lucilia
illustris, Phaenicia mexicana, Phaenicia sericata, Phormia sp., Phormia regina
(Calliphoridae: Diptera), Glossina sp., Glossina submorsitans, Glossina tachinoides
(Glossinidae: Diptera), Musca sp., Ophyra aenescens, Orthellia caesarion, Synthesiomyia
sp., Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Muscidae: Diptera), Blaesoxipha impar, Blaesoxipha
plinthophyga, Oxysarcodexia thornax, Parasarcophaga barbata, Peckia chrysostoma,
Sarcophaga sp., Sarcophaga dux, Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis (Sarcophagidae:
Diptera), Neaspilota alba (Tephritidae: Diptera), Porthetria dispar (Lymantriidae:
Lepidoptera), Cirphis latiuscula (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera), Cryptothelea minuscula
82
(Psychidae: Lepidoptera) and Yponomeuta malinellus (Yponomeutidae: Lepidoptera)
(Noyes, 2014).
Parasitoid Hosts: Blaesoxipha lineate, Sarcophaga, Sarcophaga carnaria, Sarcophaga
dux, Sarcophaga exuberans, Sarcophaga garbo, Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis,
Sarcophaga impar, Sarcophaga inzi, Sarcophaga melanura, Sarcophaga musitali,
Sarcophaga peregrine and Sarcophaga plinthopyga (Sarcophagidae: Diptera) (Noyes,
2014).
Comments: Brachymeria podagrica was first described by Fabricius (1787). The species
can be differentiated from other Brachymeria by the following characters; metafemur 1.8
to slightly more than 2x longer than wide; interstices of thoracic dorsum varying from
highly carinate to smooth spaces; does not have an inner basal tooth; metafemur red with
apex white or yellowish white.
A number of hosts are reported by Noyes (2014) for Brachymeria podagrica. This large
number of hosts indicates their importance of being susceptible to a wider range of
environmental conditions, and due to this reason, they can be applied as biological
control agents against these insects pests. By rearing the parasitoid in the lab and
applying it as a biological control agent can be beneficial against insects’ pests belonging
to order Diptera (sarcophagidae, Tephritidae and Muscidae) and Lepidoptera
(Lymantriidae, Noctuidae, Psychidae and Yponomeutidae). Research needs to be done to
find out its efficacy against dipterous insects especially Tephritids, as they are harmful to
the orchards and Muscids as they are vectors of diseases and are difficult to control. Wide
range of hosts and wider distribution of the parasitoid world-wide shows that this species
can sustain in almost every type of environment and can survive well in diverse habitats.
Such parasitoids can be helpful biological agents. The species was collected from low
vegetation and alfalfa fields with the help of insect collection sweep net. Current findings
show that the species is available in warm season. Comparison of the species with the
paratypes available at Bohart Museum of Entomology, University of California, Davis,
USA has helped me to identify species. Literature also fits in to our specimen. Species
distribution shows that it is worldwide distributed. The species is reported for the first
time from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan, and is therefore new record for the area.
83
9.7. Brachymeria habui Huseyin Ozdikmen
(Plats. 31-33)
Chalcis secundaria Ruschka 1922:227, ♀. West Europe (?MCSG)
Brachymeria secundaria (Ruschka) 1952:
Brachymeria secundaria Habu, 1960 syn. Habu
Brachymeria habui nom. nov. Hüseyin Özdikmen, 2011. 6(2): 796. Mun. Ent. Zool.
Diagnosis: Preorbital carina indistinct (Plate 32); scape shorter than combined length of
antennal segments 4-7; scutellum high in lateral view, distinctly declined posteriorly
(Plate 33).
Description of Female (n = 1)
Length: 3.8 mm.
Colour: Predominently Black. Head, meosoma and metasoma completely shining black;
antennae dark brown at the club and the segment before club; compound eyes dark
brown; ocellus dark brown; tegulae yellow with slight brown spot near the base; forewing
with submarginal, marginal and postmarginal vein dark brown color; foreleg and mesoleg
with the apices of femora with yellowish spot, tibia and tarsi completely yellow;
metafemur black with apex yellow; metatibia with yellowish apex and base, middle
portion black, metatarsi completely yellow.
Head: Preorbital carina faintly visible, not joining the frontogenal sulcus; postorbital
carina meeting the genotemporal margin (Plate 32a); scrobe reaching the anterior ocellus;
scape not reaching the anterior ocellus (Plate 32b); antennae situated high above the
clypeus almost half the length of the scape (Plate 32c); antennae with ring segments
increasing up to the 9th flagellomere and then reducing to a pointed apical end; head
wider than its length (Plate 32); POL 4.5x OOL; head wider than mesonotum (Plate 31a);
face sparsely hairy (Plate 32).
Mesosoma: Anteriorly pronotum with carinae laterally not meeting dorsally; middle part
of mesonotum with a small carinate portion (Plate 31b); punctation on mesonotum not
too deep, sparsely hairy (Plate 31b); marginal vein 3.5x postmarginal vein (Plate 31c);
84
wings hyaline; forewing with small hairs at the wing margins; scutellum rounded
posteriorly, slightly emerginate over the propodeum (Plate 31d); metacoxa with a basal
tooth at the anterior margin; metafemur with small spaced teeth on anterior margin (Plate
33b)
Metasoma: Basal part of T1 with a pit anteriorly with two lateral margins, length of
margins not more than the width of the pit; T1 shining, bulging posteriorly but not
arcuate, covering almost 1/3rd of the abdomen (Plate 31, 33); T2 shagreen, 1/3rd of T1,
with few hairs laterally; T3-5 smaller than T2, shagreen and hairy; T6 hairy and shagreen;
ovipositor covered under short epipygium.
Male: (n=1). Length: 3 mm. morphologically males are similar to the females but have
rounded abdomen at posterior end and has smaller size than the female.
Material Examined: Pakistan: KPK; Mingora, Swat. 1♀. 34° 46΄N, 72° 21΄E.
19.vi.2013. Toheed Iqbal. Nowshehra. 1♂. 34° 01.11΄N, 71° 44.3΄E. 4.vi.2013. Toheed
Iqbal.
Distribution: Austria, Bosnia Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechoslovakia, Europe,
France, Germany, Hungary, India (Himachel Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal), Italy,
Japan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Moldova, Romania, Russia (Ryazan Oblast) Slovakia,
Spain, Tselinograd Obl. Turkey, Ukraine, USSR (Central Asia, European, Siberia),
Yugoslavia (Federal Republic, Serbia) (Noyes, 2014) and Pakistan (Nowshehra and
Swat, New Records).
Hosts
Primary Hosts: Apanteles melitaearum (Braconidae: Hymenoptera), Agriopis
leucophaearia (Geometridae: Lepidoptera), Euproctis chrysorrhoea, Euproctis flava,
Lymantria dispar, Notolophus aurolimbatus, Nygmia phaeorrhoea, Ocneria dispar,
Orgyia guadarramensis, Stilpnotia salicis (Lymanteriidae: Lepidoptera), Helicoverpa
armigera, Heliothis armigera (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera), Cerura vinula (Notodontidae:
Lepidoptera), Euphydryas aurina, Mellicta sp., (Nymphalidae: Lepidoptera), Pieris
daplidice (Pieridae: Lepidoptera), Laspeyresia pomonella, Pandemis cerasaca,
Polyshrosis botrana (Tortricidae: Lepidoptera) and Pleutella meculipennis
(Yponomeutidae: Lepidoptera) (Noyes, 2014)
85
Parasitoid Hosts: Apanteles sp., Apanteles liparidis, Apanteles ordinaries, (Braconidae
sp.) Meteorus sp., Meteorus pulchricornis, Meteorus rubens, Meteorus versicolor,
Rhogas sp., Rhogas drmoniae (Braconidae: Hymenoptera) and Campoletis chlorideae
(Ichneumonidae: Hymenoptera) (Noyes, 2014).
Plant Associates: Populus sp. (Family Salicaceae) and Tamarix canariensis (Family
Tamarocaceae) (Noyes, 2014).
Comments: The species was described by Ruschka (1922), which was synonymised by
Habu (1960) as Brachymeria secundaria. Recently the species is synonymised by
Huseyin Ozdikmen (2011) and named it Brachymeria habui. The species can be
differentiated from other Brachymeria by the following characters; preorbital carina
indistinct; scape shorter than combined length of antennal segments 4-7; scutellum high
in lateral view, distinctly declined posteriorly.
Brachymeria habui were collected from low vegetation and alfalfa fields with the help of
insect collecting sweep net. It has wide distribution and has been reported from almost all
over the world. Host record of the species shows that it has wider host range and can be
reared in lab easily. After studying its biology on a particular host, they can be
recommended for mass rearing and release in the field as biological control agents. Host
record of the species shows that it is hyperparasitoid of Apanteles melitaearum, which is
a biological control agent. Before release in the field, they should be tested against
Apanteles melitaearum and if they are super parasitoids of this natural enemy, their field
release may not be encouraged. Besides this, the speices is also parasitoid of most of
lepidopterous insects. B. habui is reported for the first time from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
and Pakistan and is new record from the area. More collection from similar climates is
required to study their distribution in the country and their importance as biological
control agent should also be studied.
86
9.8. Brachymeria medicina Joseph, Narendran & Joy (1970)
(Plates 34 - 37)
Chalcis thracis Crawford, 1911:267. Lectotype ♀. Philippines Manila (USNM).
Brachymeria medicina Joseph, Narendran & Joy 1970: 289, ♀. India, Calicut (DZCU).
Diagnosis: Brachymeria medicina is different from other Brachymeria species by having
head wider than thorax; preorbital carina more or less faint and forewing with different
ratios of postmarginal to marginal and post marginal to stigmal vein; antenna swollen
towards the apex; last flagellar segment narrower than the preceeding segments.
Description of Female (n= 1)
Length: 4 mm.
Colour: Predominently Black. Eyes blackish, antennae dark brown; ocellus brown;
tegulae, apices of fore-, meso- and metafemur, bases and apices of fore and mid tibia
yellow; metatibia with apical and basal yellow patches and a brownish sub basal and
median portion; tarsi of all legs brownish yellow; forewing with light brown premarginal
vein, dark brown marginal, postmarginal and stigmal vein.
Head: Wider than mesosoma (Plate 34); head slightly more in width than its length; gap
between antennal base and clypeus almost equal to 1/3rd length of antennal scape (Plate
36b); scrobe and scape reaching the anterior ocellus (Plate 35, 36); preorbital carina
distinct, meeting with frontogenal sulcus narrowly (Plate 36c); postorbital carina
distinctly meets the genotemporal margin; genotemporal margin with a deep furrow; POL
2.5 - 3x OOL.
Mesosoma: Anteriorly mesosoma with two lateral margins coming up dorsally but do not
meet with each other, slightly apart; posteriorly protosoma with an additional carina
making an arc, space behind the arc almost smooth (Plate 34a); mesosoma with
punctations spaced apart and sparsely hairy (Plate 34a); scutellum with two upturned
lobes posteriorly, slightly emerginate over the propodeum (Plate 34b, 35b); wings
hyaline, forewing with marginal vein 4x the postmarginal vein, stigmal vein very short
with distinct uncus (Plate 35c); metafemur with 14 teeth anteriorly, with a small tubercle
at the inner margin (Plate 35d, 37a).
87
Metasoma: smaller than mesosoma; anteriorly T1 with a small pit not enclosed by ridge
or carinae; T1 smooth, shiny and almost half the length of entire abdomen (Plate 34); T2
with small rugae, and sparsely hairy laterally (Plate 37b); T3-6 with rugae anteriorly and
smooth posteriorly, sparsely hairy; epipygium covering short ovipositor (Plate 37c).
Male: (n=1). Males have characters similar to the females except the abdominal end,
which is rounded in males and smaller size of the male than the female.
Material Examined: Pakistan: KPK; Peshawar. 1♂. 34°1.2΄N, 71°28.4΄E. 30.v.2012.
Toheed Iqbal. Charsadda. 1♀. 34°5.06΄N, 71°50.1΄E. 5.vii.2011. Toheed Iqbal.
Distribution: Philippines, India (Kerala) (Noyes, 2014) and Pakistan (Charsadda and
Peshawar, New Records).
Host: Erionota thrax (Hesperiidae: Lepidoptera) (Noyes, 2014).
Comments: Brachymeria medicina was described by Crawford (1911) as Chalcis
thracis. Later it was named as Brachymeria medicina by Joseph, Narendran & Joy
(1970). It resembles B. minuta in having similar colouration of legs and number of teeth
on metafemur but it differs from B. minuta in having head wider than thorax, preorbital
carina more or less faint and different proportions of postmarginal to marginal and post
marginal to stigmal vein of forewing; antenna which is swollen towards the apex, last
flagellar segment narrower than the preceeding segments.
Distributional record shows that it is reported from Philippines and India, which proves
that the species is not common and is restricted to particular geographical area. In current
study we report it as new record from Charsadda and Peshawar areas of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Literature shows that the species is reported to be parasitoid
upon Erionota thrax (Hesperidae: Lepidoptera). Erionota thrax is reported to be pest of
palm and banana and is host of many different parasitoid families like Pteromalidae,
Encyrtidae, Eulophidae and Eupelmidae. In current study, the species was collected from
areas where there is no palm or banana tree, but was collected from short grasses and
alfalfa fields with the help of insect collection sweep net. In our collection, we have a
female and a male from almost similar geographical areas. If Erionota thrax is not
reported from this area of Pakistan, it means B. medicina is parasitoid of some other
species. In order to find host of B. medicina, the area needs to be surveyed again for the
88
parasitoid and its host species. Current research is thus a base line for finding out the host
in current locations, rearing of the host, to find out the efficacy of the parasitoid against
its host and controlling the population of the pest species.
Subfamily Dirhininae
This group was first raised as tribe by Ashmead (1904) followed by Masi (1947).
When tribe Alporhinini was raised, it was suggested that it is intermediate between
Dirhinini and Epitranini. Habu (1960) marked it as subfamily and aplorhinini as its tribe.
This subfamily includes species having metatibia produced into a distinct stout spine
beyond the insertion of the tarsus. Metafemur always has comb of minute denticles just
like Haltichellinae. Other characters of this subfamily include horned head and typical,
shortly petiolated abdomen. Currently this subfamily comprises of two tribes, Dirhinini
and Aplorhinini. In our studies, we found species belonging to tribe Dirhinini and genus
Dirhinus.
10. Genus Dirhinus Dalman
(Plates 38 – 55)
Dirhinus Dalman, 1818:75-76, pl. 2. Type species Dirhinus excavates Dalman by
monotypy.
Eniacella Girault, 1913(172):35. Type species Eniacella rufricornis Girault; by original
designation.
Eniacomorpha Girault, 1915(245):354. Type species Eniacomorpha vulture Girault; by
original designation.
Other synonyms are Eniaca Kirby, 1883, Dirrhinoidea Girault, 1912, Pareniaca
Crawford, 1913, Dirhinoides Masi, 1947. All these names were placed in synonymy by
Burks (1936), except Eniacomorpha, synonymised by Bouček & Narendran (1981).
According to Bouček (1992) this genus is one of the most prominent genera but its
species are difficult to separate.
89
Biology: Dirhinus is the parasitoid of most Diptera, specifically synanthropic species of
Calliphoridae, Muscidae and Sarcophagidae. Certain Tephritid flies are also parasitized
by this genus (Bouček, 1992).
Distribution: This genus is distributed all over the warmer countries of the world i.e,
Australia (5 spp., plus 3 undescribed), Africa with Southern Europe (23 spp.) and South
Asia and Pacific Islands (with about 25 undescribed species) (Bouček, 1992).
Key to the species of genus Dirhinus of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
1. Apex of each horn more or less rounded dorsally without any notch (Plate 45a);
sparse punctation on thorax (Plate 46a); wings hyaline, without distinct pilosity in
female (Plate 45b); metatibia with another shallow groove outside tarsal sulcus in
distal half (Plate 48a) …………………………………… himalayanus Westwood
1΄. Apex of each horn on anterior side with a distinct notch (Plates 39a, 42a, 55a);
mesosoma with dense and close punctations than in alternate; forewing with
distinct pilosity; metatibia without additional sulcus, if sulcus present, then clava
asymmetric ………………………………………………………………………. 2
2. Scutellum with a median impunctate strip anteriorly (Plate 38a, 39b, 51a); T1 with
striations, posterior margin of these striate area nearly straight (Plate 38b, 50a);
median areola of propodeum with convex sides (Plate 38c); dorsally each horn at
level with anterior margin of eye, broader than scrobal gap (Plate 39a, 51b)
……………………………………………………………….…………………… 3
2΄. Scutellum without median impunctate strip anteriorly (Plate 42b, 53a); T1 with
striations narrower than long with hind margin not straight but with few striae
produced in the middle (Plate 41a, 56a); propodium with median areola more
elongate than in alternate with almost parallel or subparallel sides (Plate 56b); in
dorsal view, each horn at anterior ocular line, slightly narrower than scrobal gap
except in secunadrius ….………………………………………………………… 4
3. Horns with anterior and dorsal inner edge converging in acute to right angle,
anterior and lateral edges forming acute angle of about 60° (Plate 39a); T1 with
striae reaching only 1/3rd the length of T1 (Plate 38b); antennae, fore and mid legs
90
testaceous or rufous, female with thick antennae…………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………. anthracia Walker.
3΄. Horns with anterior and dorsal inner edges of horns in right to obtuse angle,
anterior and lateral edges in nearly right angle, the horns is therefore rather obtuse
(Plate 51a); T1 with striae reaching more than 2/5th the length of T1 (Plate 50a);
female with more slender antennae (Plate
51b)………………………………………..……………..…… hesperidum (Rossi)
4. Dorsally each horn at anterior ocular line slightly narrower than scrobal gap (Plate
42a); propodeum with median areola almost parallel sided (Plate 41b) ..……
………………………………………………………………….. auratus Ashmead
4΄. Dorsally each horn at anterior ocular line not narrower than scrobal gap (Plate
53b); propodeum with median areola not parallel sided (Plate 53c, 556b) …..
………………………………………………………………….. secundarius Masi
10.1. Dirhinus anthracia
(Plates 38 - 40)
Dirhinus anthracia Walker, 1846:7, 85. ♂. Philippines, (BMNH). Redescribed by
Bouček and Narendran, 1981:239-243.
Eniacella rufricornis Girault, 1913(172):35. QLD. Gordonvale (Nelson). Description
repeated by Girault, 1915(245): 352-353. Synonymised with D. anthracia by
Bouček and Naredran, 1981:239.
Eniacella bicornuticeps Girault, 1915(245):353. QLD. Kuranda. Synonymised with D.
anthracia by Bouček and Naredran, 1981:239.
Dirhinus sarcophagae Froggatt, 1919:853-855. NSW. Kooroogama, nr Moree; ex
Sarcophaga aurifrons Macquart. Synonymised with D. anthracia by Bouček and
Naredran, 1981:239.
? Dirhinus sinon Fernando W. 1957: 214, syntypes, 2♂. Eastern Province Punanui (?
lost).
Dirhinus aligarhensis Husain & Agarwal, 1981a:183, ♀. India, Aligarh (ZDAMU).
Dirhinus ignobilicornis Husain & Agarwal, 1981b:187, ♀. India, Aligarh (ZDAMU).
91
Diagnosis: Mesosoma with anterior border slightly punctate (Plate 38, 39); scutellum
with a median unpunctate and smooth area (Plate 38d, 39b); head with dorsal inner edge
of the horn converging into an acute to right angle, anterior and lateral edges forming an
acute angle of about 60° (Plate 39a); T1 with striae reaching only one third of its length
(Plate 38d).
Description of Female (n=13)
Length: 3.3 – 4.9mm
Colour: Predominently Black. Eyes light colour to dark black; entire body except the
antenna, foreleg and meso leg with trochanter, femur, tibia and tarsi liver brown in
colour; metafemur completely black with liver brown tarsi; ocellus dark brown in colour;
tegulae brown; forewing hyaline with brown premarginal, marginal vein; point of
attachment between premarginal and postmarginal vein transparent.
Head: Broader than mesosoma (Plate 38); produced into two horns shaped structures
anteriorly with a notch, dorsal inner edge of the horn converging into an acute to right
angle, anterior and lateral edges forming an acute angle of about 60° (Plate 39a);
antennae of female thick; preorbital carina faintly present in anterior half of the eye;
antennae arising slightly above the clypeus; face smooth without any frontogenal sulcus;
genotemporal margin with a sharp carina.
Mesosoma: anteriorly pronotum with a strong carina laterally which starts from base of
fore leg reaches to shoulder level, posterior margin of pronotum with a shining smooth
strip (Plate 38d, 39b); mesonotum with a shagreen anterior margin (Plate 39c); strong
carinae present on lateral sides of mesonotum, just on the base of the tegulae; mesosoma
with deep punctations, punctations widely spaced (Plate 38, 39); scutellum rounded
posteriorly (Plate 38, 39); forewings with stigmal vein rudimentary, uncus reduced into a
stub (Plate 38); metacoxae with rugae posteriorly (Plate 40b); metafemur with a basal
tooth anteriorly followed by very small teeth (Plate 40a); metatibia with tip produced into
a spine (Plate 40c).
Metasoma: T1 with a short petiole anteriorly with 3 carinae on the petiole (Plate 38b);
anterior margin of T1 with striae reaching 1/3 of its length, posterior end with punctation
92
dorsally and laterally (Plate 38b); T1 shining and covers most of the abdomen; T2-4 very
small; ovipositor very small, covered in short epipygium.
Male: (n = 8). Males are similar to females in morphology but differ in abdominal end
which is rounded in males and conical in females; males are smaller from females in
body size; abdominal segmentation in males different from female; antennae thinner than
females.
Material Examined
Type Material Examined: Malaysia: Petaling Jaya, Selangor. 4.xii.1966. 2♂.DET
Narendran 2002. Petaling Jaya, Selangor. 30.vii.1967. 1♂. DET Narendran 2002.
Angeles City, Luzon Pl. 4.iv.1978. 2♀. DET Narendran 2002. India: 916km; Karnataka;
Banglore. K. ghorpade MT . 3♀. DET Narendran 2002. Sri Lanka: Central Kandy Distr.
Katalu Oye Estate. 7°24’N 80°07’E. 1.ix.1999. M&J. Wasbaeur . 1♀. DET Narendran
2002. Central Kandy Distr. U Peradeniya Gannoruwa Forest Area. 7°17’N 80°36’E. 13-
14.viii.1999. M&J. Wasbaeur . 1♀. DET Narendran 2002. Pakistan: KPK; Charsadda.
4♀, 2♂. 34° 5.06΄N, 71° 50.1΄E. 5.vii.2011. Toheed Iqbal. Charsadda. 1♀, 1♂.
13.vi.2012. Toheed Iqbal. Peshawar. 1♀, 1♂. 34° 01.1΄N, 71° 28.53΄E. 12.iv.2013.
Toheed Iqbal. Peshawar. 1♂. 9.vi.2012. Toheed Iqbal.
Distribution: Australia (New South Wales, Queensland), India (Madhaya Pradesh,
Manipur, Punjab, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka (New Record)), Philippines, South
Africa, Taiwan, Zambia (Noyes, 2014), Malaysia, Srilanka and Pakistan (Charsadda and
Peshawar, New Records).
Hosts
Primary hosts: Calliphora villosa (Calliphoridae: Diptera), Musca domestica
(Muscidae: Diptera), Sarcophaga sp. (Sarcophagidae: Diptera),, Sarcophaga aurifrons
(Sarcophagidae: Diptera),, Sarcophaga inzi (Sarcophagidae: Diptera),, Sarcophaga
tibialis (Sarcophagidae: Diptera), Dacus cucurbitae (Tephritidae: Diptera), Dacus
ferrugineus (Tephritidae: Diptera), Bombyx mori (Bombycidae: Lepidoptera), Placoptera
reflexa (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera), Hapalia machaeralis (Pyralidae: Lepidoptera),
93
Pyrausta machaeralis (Pyralidae: Lepidoptera), Brachartona catoxantha (Zygaenidae:
Lepidoptera), Chortoicetes terminifera (Acrididae: Orthoptera) (Noyes, 2014).
Parasitoid Hosts: Blaesoxipha pachytyli (Sarcophagidae: Diptera), Sarcophaga
aurifrons (Sarcophagidae: Diptera), Ceracia fergusoni (Tachinidae: Diptera), Exorista
bombycis (Tachinidae: Diptera), Exorista sorbillans (Tachinidae: Diptera), Tricholyga
bombycis (Tachinidae: Diptera), (Noyes, 2014).
Plant Associates: Dalbergia sissoo (Family Fabaceae) (Noyes, 2014).
Comments: The species was described by Walker (1846a). Diagnostic characters of the
species include mesosoma with anterior border slightly punctate; scutellum with a
median unpunctate and smooth area; head with dorsal inner edge of the horn converging
into an acute to right angle, anterior and lateral edges forming an acute angle of about
60°; T1 with striae reaching only one third of its length. The species is very much close to
D. hesperidium but can be separated from it by having anterior and inner dorsal edges of
horns converging in acute to right angle and anterior and lateral edges forming an angle
of about 60°. T1 with striae reaching 1/3rd of its length.
The species was collected from low vegetation; grasses and alfalfa fields with the help of
insect collecting sweep net throughout the year. Host list of the species is too long.
Among the hosts, Musca domestica, Sarcophaga sp. and Dacus cucurbitae are the
common pests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. D. anthracia can be reared in the lab
and can be applied as biological control agents against these pests. D. anthracia can also
be tested as biological control agent against other related pests. Distribution of D.
anthracia shows that it is widely distributed worldwide. The species is reported for the
first time from Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). Species were
identified with the help of available literature and compared with the paratypes available
at Bohart Museum of Entomology, University of California, Davis, USA.
94
10.2. Dirhinus auratus Ashmead
(Plates 41 – 44)
Dirhinus auratus Ashmead, 1905:402, Lectotype, ♀. Philippines, Manila (USNM).
Dirhinus circinus Husain & Agarwal, 1981: 182, ♀. India Aligarh (ZDAMU)
The type of circinus is conspecific with auratus. Dirhinus pambaeus Mani & Dubey
(1974) is a synonym of auratus (Bouček & Narendran, 1981).
Diagnosis: Presence of shagreen striations between the posterior margin of pronotum and
anterior margin of mesonotum (Plate 42c); dorsally each horn at anterior ocular line
slightly narrower than scrobal gap (Plate 42a); propodeum with median areola almost
parallel sided (Plate 41b).
Description of Female (n= 5)
Length: 3.5 – 4.7mm
Colour: Predominently Black. Eyes dark; ocellus brown; antennae, femur, tibia and tarsi
of fore and meso legs light brown; tarsi on hind leg yellowish brown; apical 3 flegellear
segments dark brown; tegulae light brown; wings hyaline with premarginal, marginal
vein light brown.
Head: Head with two notches at the apical margin of the horns like structures, each horn
in dorsal view at anterior ocular line slightly narrow than scrobal gap (Plate 42a); wider
than mesosoma (Plate 42); POL slightly less than OOL; preorbital carina slightly visible
on anterior margin of eye, postorbital carina absent; genotemporal margin with a strong
carina (Plate 43a); antenna situated high above the clypeus; head covered with deep
punctations and sparse hairs (Plate 42).
Mesosoma: Mesosoma with deep, widely spaced punctations (Plate 42); posterior margin
of pronotum shagreen in the middle (Plate 42c); mesonotum with tegulae covered by
carinae; metanotum with spaced and deep punctations; scutellum not emerginate over the
propodeum (Plate 41, 43b); median areola of the propodeum almost parallel (Plate 41b);
scutellum rounded apically (Plate 41, 42); propodeum larger than scutellum with horns
like structures extending backwards and laterally; forewing with post marginal vein
absent and stigmal vein reduced into a stub (Plate 41, 44); metacoxa with striations on
95
lateral and posterior margins, anterior margins hairy (Plate 41, 43); metafemur with a
basal tooth anteriorly followed by numerous small teeth, metatibia as long as femur (Plate
41, 43).
Metasoma: T1 anteriorly with 4 longitudinal carinae, attached by small petiolated
attachment (Plate 41, 43); T1 with a number of carinae anteriorly reaching almost 2/5th of
T1 (Plate 41a); T1 covering 8/9th of the abdomen, shagreen and sparsely hairy laterally,
shining dorsally (Plate 41, 43); T2-4 hardly visible from above, shagreen dorsally and
laterally; epipygium very short and hairy.
Male: (n = 6). Similar to female in morphological characters but have rounded abdominal
end and smaller size.
Material Examined
Type Material Examined: Thailand; Chaian mai; Thung Huay Kho Thambao Donpao,
Amphur Mae Wang. 20-30 iii.1997. S. Sonthichai MT. 2 ♀. DET Narendran 2002.
Chaian mai; Thung Huay Kho Thambao Donpao, Amphur Mae Wang. 20-30 iv.1997. S.
Sonthichai MT. 1 ♀. DET Narendran 2002. India; Karnataka, Banglore 916 km, 1-
10.iii.1989. K. Ghorpade C45. 1 ♀. DET Narendran 2002. Pakistan: KPK; Swabi. 1♀.
34° 11΄N, 72° 19.5΄E. 4.viii.2000. Inayatullah. Swabi. 1♂. 18.viii.2000. Inayatullah.
Swabi. 1♂. 20.viii.2000. Inayatullah. Peshawar. 1♂. 34° 1.1΄N, 71° 28.53΄E. 12.iv.2013.
Toheed Iqbal. Peshawar. 1♂. 28.iv.2013. Toheed Iqbal. Charsadda. 2♂. 34° 5΄N, 71°
50΄E. 5.vii.2011. Toheed Iqbal.
Distribution: India (Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhaya Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu,
Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal), Laos, Mauritius, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan,
Thailand, Vietnam (Noyes, 2014) and Pakistan (Charsadda, Peshawar and Swabi, New
Records).
Hosts
Dacus sp. (Tephritidae: Diptera), Dacus cucurbitae (Tephritidae: Diptera) and Dacus
ferrugineus (Tephritidae: Diptera) (Noyes, 2014).
Comments: Dirhinus auratus was first described by Ashmead (1905). The species can
be identified with the following characters; presence of shagreen, striations between the
96
posterior margin of pronotum and anterior margin of mesonotum; dorsally each horn at
anterior ocular line slightly narrower than scrobal gap; propodeum with median areola
almost parallel sided.
D. auratus was identified with the help of available literature and paratypes available at
Bohart Museum of Entomology, UC Davis, USA. Characters mentioned in the key and
description present in literature meets our specimen. Paratypes were also helpful in
observing the characters in more depth. This species is reported to be parasitoid of Dacus
sp., which is pest of many important vegetables and fruits. D. auratus is host specific as
compared to other species of genus Dirhinus. It can also be tested against a number of
other Tephritid insects and other related species to test its efficacy as biological control
agent. Distributional record shows that the species is reported from Oriental region.
Narendran (1989) reported D. auratus from Pakistan but no details about its exact
location has been provided. In current study, we report this species for the first time from
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan and is therefore new record for the chalcidid
fauna of Pakistan.
10.3. Dirhinus hesperidum (Rossi)
(Plates 50 - 52)
Chrysis hysperidium Rossi, Fauna Etrusca. 2:100 (1790) (MNHN).
Chalcis cornigera Jurine, Methode Clas. Hym. & Dipt., 1:315 (1807).
Dirhinus hesperidium Nees, Hym. Ichneum. Affin., 2:36 (1834).
Dirhinus cornigerus Walker, Ent. Mag., 2:38-39 (1834).
Dirhinus hesperidum Walker, 1:7 (1846b).
Dirhinus imperialis Giraud, Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wein., 13:1309 (1863).
Eniaca hesperidum Kirby, Jour. Linn. Soc. London, Zool., 17:57 (1883).
Habu (1960, 1962) redescribed this species.
Diagnosis: Horns with inner margin, almost parallel up to middle, then diverging
exteriorly moderately reflexed near middle (Plate 51b); antennal sockets situated a little
below, level of ventral margin of each eye (Plate 52a); smooth swollen area of post
clypeus almost as wide as high; mesoscutellum with median longitudinal, slightly
97
convex, smaller area without pits;!petiole distinctly shorter than wide with four distinct
carinae.
Description of Female (n= 3)
Length: 3.4- 5mm
Colour: Predominently Black. Compound eyes whitish; ocellus transparent; antennae,
tibia femur and tarsi of fore and meso legs rufuous, apical part of antennal club reddish
brown; fore and mid femora dark reddish brown except brown apical and basal parts;
metafemur shiny black, metatibia dull black, metatarsi brown or reddish brown; wings
hyaline, fore wing with transparent premarginal vein and light brown marginal vein, hind
wings with pale brown veins; thorax shiny black; tegulae dark brown or reddish brown;
hind wing with pale brown wings; coxae black; fore and mid trochanters brown, hind
trochanter black; abdomen shiny black; pubescence on body silvery, slightly golden on
dorsal side.
Head: Frontodorsally, head almost as wide as thorax, as long as wide; head surface
compactly and distinctly pitted, interspaces of pits narrow, carinate with microsculpture
(Plate 51, 52); horns almost parallel, twice as long as wide, inner margin, almost parallel
up to middle, then diverging exteriorly moderately reflexed near middle (Plate 51);
ocellar area raised, surrounded by curving weak carinae along outer side of hind ocellus
(Plate 51c); laterally head with a fine furrow along posterior end of geno-temporal
margin (Plate 52b); antennal sockets situated a little below, level of ventral margin of
each eye (Plate 52a); ventral margin of scrobal cavity without distinct border; smooth
swollen area of post clypeus almost as wide as high; antennae moderately thickening
towards apex (Plate 52); scape as long as the first seven flagellar segments together;
pedicel twice or slightly less than twice as long as wide; surface of basal three antennal
segments densely pubescent.
Mesosoma: Mesosoma with distinct compact pits dorsally, especially pronotum and
mesoscutum, interspaces of pits narrow, partially carinate, mesoscutellum with median
longitudinal, slightly convex, narrow area without pits (Plate 51a); mesoscutellum as long
as wide, apex slightly prominent though rounded; propodeum rather short, median carina
in median areola short, more or less weak (Plate 50b); marginal vein of forewing 11/5x as
98
long as submarginal vein (Plate 51); metacoxae smooth on narrow dorsal area, rugose on
dorso lateral part, with distinct dense punctures and pubescence on ventral side (Plate
52c); metafemur 13/4x as long as wide in middle, outer side minutely densely punctate,
inner side minutely and faintly punctate, basal tooth on inner ventral margin very small,
basal tooth outer ventral margin small (Plate 52d).
Metasoma: Petiole distinctly shorter than wide with four distinct carinae (Plate 50c);
abdomen widest slightly before the middle, a little narrower than thorax; T1 occupying
2/3 - 3/4x of the abdomen, wide band of fine dense punctures along posterior margin
widely interrupted at median area, dorsobasal area with about tweleve longitudinal
carinae, carinae more or less extending beyond basal one third of T1, but not reaching
one-half, posterior margin slightly emerginate at the middle (Plate 50a).
Male: (n=1). Male similar in morphology to female, except round abdominal tip and
body smaller in size.
Material Examined
Type Material Examined: India: Karnataka, Banglore 916 km, 21-31.x.1988. K.
Ghorpade MT. 1♀. DET Narendran 2002. Pakistan: KPK; Peshawar. 2♀, 1♂. 34°
01.1΄N, 71° 28.53΄E. 12.iv.2013. Toheed Iqbal.
Distribution: Austria, Bosnia Hercgovina, Croatia, Czechoslovakia, France, Hungary,
Iran, Italy, Japan, Korea, Moldova, North Africa, Romania, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine
and Pakistan (Peshawar, New Records).
Host
Primary Hosts: Musca domastica (Muscidae: Diptera) and Sarcophaga sp.
(Sarcophagidae: Diptera).
Comments: Dirhinus hesperidum was described by Rossi (1790). It can be identified
with the help of following characters; horns with inner margin, almost parallel up to
middle, then diverging exteriorly moderately reflexed near middle; antennal sockets
situated a little below, level of ventral margin of each eye; smooth swollen area of post
clypeus almost as wide as high; mesoscutellum with median longitudinal, slightly
convex, narrow area without pits;!petiole distinctly shorter than wide with four distinct
carinae.
99
The species resemble D. anthracia up to much extent but it differs from it by having
anterior and dorsal edges of horns in right to obtuse angel, anterior and lateral edges in
nearly right angle, and striae on T1 having length about 2/5th of T1. Keys and literature
fits in with the current specimen. D. hesperidum was confirmed by comparing it with its
paratype present at Bohart Museum of Entomology, University of California, Davis,
USA. Host record shows that the species is parasitoid upon Musca domestica and
Sarcophaga sp. Both these species are pests and found in large numbers in Khyber
Pahtunkhwa and Pakistan. If Dirhinus hesperidum mass reared in control conditions and
released as biological control agent against them, it may lead to be successful part of
IPM. Research needs to be done against these two pests and other related dipterous
species to find out its efficacy against them. This species has been reported from different
areas of the world, which shows its diversity in different climates. From Pakistan this
species is reported for the first time from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and is therefore new
record.
10.4. Dirhinus himalayanus Westwood
(Plates 45 - 49)
Dirhinus himalayanus Westwood, 1836: pl.10, 840: liv. ♀. India, Uttar Pardesh, Dehra
Dun. (lost).
Dirhinus lakhimpuriensis Husain & Agarwal, 1981: 191, ♂. India, Uttar Pardesh,
Lakhimpur (ZDAMU).
Other synonyms are D. crythroceras Cameron (1906), D. luzonensis Rohwer (1923), D.
luciliae Rohwer (1923), D. pachycerus Masi (1927), D. vilasovi Nikol’skaya
(1952), Dirhinoides mathuri Mani and Dubey (1972).
Single male holotype of lakhimpuriensis locates from the state Uttar Pardesh (North
India) from where the name of himalayanus is believed to come.
Diagnosis: Preorbital carina present only at anterior margin of eye; postorbital carina and
frontogenal sulcus absent; apex of each horn more or less rounded dorsally without any
notch (Plate 46b); sparse punctation on mesosoma (Plate 46a); metatibia with another
shallow groove outside tarsal sulcus in distal half (Plate 48a).
100
Description of Female (n = 1)
Length: 3.2 – 4.3mm
Colour: Black. Compound eyes dark brown; ocellus light brown; tegulae pale yellow,
wings hyaline with premarginal vein light brown, marginal vein brown; hind wing with
pale yellow vein; fore and mid coxae brown; trochanter, femur and tibia of fore and meso
legs light brown; all tarsi light brown; metafemur and metatibia liver brown.
Head: wider than mesosoma with 2 apical notches on two horns (Plate 46b); OOL more
than POL; from front view the base of scrobe wider than the apex; preorbital carina
present only at anterior margin of eye; postorbital carina and frontogenal sulcus absent
(Plate 47a); scrobe and scape reaching the anterior ocellus (Plate 47b); head with deep
punctations and silvery pubescence (Plate 46).
Mesosoma: Antero-lateral margin of pronotum with carinae reaching mesosoma dorsally
(Plate 46c); mesonotum with punctations not deep, widely separated, sparsely hairy;
mesonotum with a shagreen belt anteriorly; laterally tegulae with carinae on each side;
forewing with long marginal vein, postmarginal vein absent, stigmal vein reduced into a
stub without uncus (Plate 49a); scutellum with apex rounded, widely punctate, slightly
emerginate over the propodeum (Plate 49b); metacoxa with hairy margin anteriorly,
posterior margin with horizontal rugae; metafemur with a basal tooth slightly larger than
rest of the teeth (Plate 48b) covering entire anterior length of the metafemur; length of
metafemur 1.25 x its width (Plate 48).
Metasoma: petiole short carinate, (Plate 46d); T1 with 6-7 longitudinal carinae
perpendicular to the propodeum, covering 1/3rd of T1 (Plate 49c); length of T1 half the
length of the metasoma, shining with very few hairs laterally (Plate 46); T2-5 shining and
smooth; T6 slightly hairy when viewed from above; laterally the abdomen is whitish.
Male: (n=1). Males are similar in morphology and general appearance to the females, but
are smaller in size and have rounded abdominal tip, rather than conical as in females.
Material Examined: Pakistan: KPK; Charsadda. 1♀. 34° 5.06΄N, 71° 50.1΄E.
5.vii.2011. Toheed Iqbal. Peshawar. 1♂. 34° 1.3΄N, 71° 28.5΄E. 23.viii.2006.
Inayatullah.
101
Distribution
Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Turkmenia, China, Philippines, Cocos Island, Sumatra and Hawai,
(Narendran, 1989), India (Karnataka, Puducherry, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pardesh,
West Bengal), Japan, Malaysia (Peninsular), Pakistan, Philippines, Turkmenistan, USSR
(Central Asia) (Noyes, 2014) and Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Peshawar, New
Records).
Hosts
Primary Hosts: Chrysoma megacephala (Calliphoridae: Diptera), Lucilia sp.
(Calliphoridae: Diptera), Lucilia cuprina (Calliphoridae: Diptera), Musca sp. (Muscidae:
Diptera), Musca domestica (Muscidae: Diptera), Musca inferior (Muscidae: Diptera),
Sarcophaga sp. (Sarcophagidae: Diptera), Sarcophaga tuberose (Sarcophagidae:
Diptera), Exorista sorbillans (Tachinidae: Diptera), Anastrepha suspense (Tephritidae:
Diptera), Hyphantria cunea (Arctiidae: Lepidoptera), Bombyx mori (Bombicidae:
Lepidoptera) (Noyes, 2014)..
Parasitoid Hosts: Sarcophaga sp. (Sarcophagidae: Diptera), Sarcophaga ruficornis
(Sarcophagidae: Diptera), Sarcophaga tuberose (Sarcophagidae: Diptera), Exorista
sorbillans (Tachidae: Diptera), Trycholyga bombycis (Tachidae: Diptera),
Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Braconidae: Hymenoptera) (Noyes, 2014).
Plant Associates: Shorea robusta (Family Dipterocarpaceae) and Dalbergia sisso
(Family Fabaceae) (Noyes, 2014).!!
Comments: Dirhinus himalayanus was described by Westwood (1836). This species can
be identified by having preorbital carina present only at anterior margin of eye;
postorbital carina and frontogenal sulcus absent; apex of each horn more or less rounded
dorsally without any notch; sparse punctation on thorax; wings hyaline, without distinct
pilosity in female; metatibia with another shallow groove outside tarsal sulcus in distal
half.
Dirhinus himalayanus was collected from low vegetation and weeds with the help of
insect collecting sweep net. This species has huge list of hosts. Among these hosts, most
of the insects belong to order Diptera. They are parasitoids of Musca domestica and
Sarcophaga sp. Srinivasan and Amalraj (2003) used parasitoid Dirhinus himalayanus
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(Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) in combination with insect’s growth regulator triflumuron
and recorded reduction house fly Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) density. They
recommended this combination for house fly control. Christopher et al., (2006) reared
Dhirinus himalayanus, on Sarcophaga bullata and Hydrotaea aenescens and found
highest production of parasitoids on these hosts. Comparatively little progeny was
produced on stable fly and house fly hosts and very few progeny were produced by this
species on horn fly hosts. In Pakistan, we have large number of poultry farms where
there is major problem of dipterous insects. B. himalayanus can be easily reared and
tested against it and may lead to successful biological control in poultry farms. Research
needs focus on this aspect of application of these biological control agents. According to
Noyes (2014), D. himalayanus is hyperparasitoid not only of other dipterous parasitoids
but also hyperparasitoid of Hymenoptera i.e, Braconidae. D. himalayanus has been
reported from different parts of the world including Pakistan. Bouček and Narendran
(1981) have mentioned the species to be reported from Pakistan but exact location or data
about specimen is not available. The species fits to the description and literature and is
thus reported for the first time from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
10.5. Dirhinus secundarius Masi
(Plates 53 - 56)
Dirhinus secundarius Masi 1933, 12:10-11, ♀. Taiwan. (MNHN).
Diagnosis:!Horns on head slightly diverging towards the apex, inner margins of horns
fairly diverging from middle (Plate 53b); furrow along dorsal end of geno-temporal
margin deep and distinct (Plate 55b); interocular space with faint preorbital carina on
each side; mesoscutellum pitted throughout, pits with narrow interspaces, rather carinate
without microsculptures (Plate 56c); metafemur with basal tooth on inner side of ventral
margin small but prominent, basal tooth on outer ventral margin large and sharp (Plate
56d).
Description of Male (n = 7)
Length: 3.3 – 4.5mm
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Colour: Black. Antennae dark reddish brown; thorax shiny black; tegulae reddish brown;
wings slightly brownish; forewings with pale brown submarginal vein, marginal and
stigmal veins dark reddish brown; coxae black; fore and mid trochanters brown, hind
trochanters black; fore and mid femora reddish black with brown apex, hind femora
black; fore and mid tibia brown, basal half slightly reddish, hind tibia black; tarsi pale
brown; abdomen shiny black; body with silvery pubescence, on dorsal side rather golden.
Head: In front view, head little narrower than thorax; compact pits on surface, pits with
carinate interspaces and minute microsculptures (Plat 53, 56e); horns on head slightly
diverging towards the apex, inner margins of horns finely diverging from middle, inner
tooth more prominent and wider than the outer tooth, outer tooth rather small, outer
margin almost straight, reaching level of anterior margin of front ocellus; furrow along
hind margin of geno-temporal region deep and distinct (Plate 55b); head in ventral view
moderate in width; compound eyes convex and glabrous; interocular space with faint
preorbital carina on each side; antennal sockets almost at the level of ventral margin of
compound eyes (Plate 55c); ventrally scrobal cavity with weakly bordered margin;
antennae slender; scape of the antennae little shorter than segments 2-6 together; pedicel
as long as wide.
Mesosoma: compact, dorsally distinctly pitted, pits large, mesoscutellum pitted
throughout, pits with narrow interspaces, carinate without microsculptures (Plat 53a,
56c); mesoscutellum little longer than wide, apex rather pointed; propodeum longer than
wide, anterior tooth behind spiracles, distinct rather large, posterior tooth small;
forewings with marginal vein 11/6x as long as submarginal vein (Plat 54a); metafemur
less than 12/3x as long as wide at middle, outer side minutely densely punctate, inner side
rather sparsely punctate, basal tooth on inner side of ventral margin small but prominent,
basal tooth on outer ventral margin large and sharp (Plat 53d, 54b, 56d).
Metasoma: Petiole almost as long as wide at anterior end, 11/3x as wide as long at
posterior end, with four strong carinae, lateral margins weakly carinate (Plat 53c, 56b);
abdomen a little shorter than pronotum, mesoscutum and mesoscutellum together (Plat
53); T1 occupying more than one-half of abdomen with band of small dense punctures
along posterior margin slightly interrupted at the middle, dorsobasal area with about eight
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long and six short cariane on 2/5th of T1, posterior margin of T1 slightly emerginate at the
middle; Remaining segments of abdomen hidden under T1.
Female: Unknown
Material Examined: Pakistan: KPK; Swabi. 1♂. 34° 11΄N, 72° 19.5΄E. 15.vii.2000.
Inayatullah. Charsadda. 1♂. 34° 5΄N, 71° 50΄E. 5.vii.2011. Toheed Iqbal. Peshawar. 1♂.
34° 1.3΄N, 71° 28.5΄E. 10.vii.2006. Inayatullah. Peshawar. 1♂. 28.vii.2004. Inayatullah.
Peshawar. 3♂. 12.iv.2013. Toheed Iqbal.
Distribution: Taiwan and Japan.
Host: Unknown
Comments: Dirhinus secundarius was described by Masi (1933). The species can be
identified by having horns on head slightly diverging towards the apex, inner margins of
horns fairly diverging from middle; furrow along hind margin of geno-temporal margin
rather deep and distinct; interocular space with faint preorbital carina on each side;
mesoscutellum pitted throughout, pits with narrow interspaces, rather carinate without
microsculptures; metafemur with basal tooth on inner side of ventral margin small but
prominent, basal tooth on outer ventral margin large and sharp.
D. secundarius differs from closely resembling species D. auratus in having anterior
ocular line not narrower than the scrobal gap in dorsal view, median areola in this species
as also not parallel sided. Host record of the species is not known; the species is reported
only in Taiwan and Japan. In current study, we have only 7 male specimen available and
and no female specimen. We therefore cannot write description of the female. However,
literature and key were sufficient to differentiate the species from other species. The
specimens were collected from Swabi, Charsadda and Nowshehra areas of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan with the help of sweep net and Malaise Trap installed in low
vegetation and weeds. The species is first record from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and
Pakistan.
105
Subfamily Epitraninae
This subfamily consists of a single genus having up to 50 species worldwide
(Bouček, 1988). In this study, the only genus in this subfamily can be recognized by
having; marginal vein of forewing extremely long, postmarginal vein absent and stigmal
vein rudimentary, antennae inserted on lower end of face, on the base of clypeal shelf
protruding over mouth, abdomen bulging ventrally, abdomen on slender and long striate
petiole. According to Habu (1960), species of this subfamily bear resemblance to the
species of Chalcidinae, but morphologically they are not so closely related.
11. Genus Epitranus Walker
(Figs. 66 - 76)
Epitranus Walker, 1834: 21, 26. Type species Epitranus fulvescens Walker; by
monotypy.
Neoanacryptus Girault, 1913(158):86. Type species Neoanacryptus petiolatus Girault; by
original designation.
Chalcitelloides Girault, 1914(177): 30. Type species Chalcitelloides nigriscutum Girault;
by original designation.
Description repeated by Girault, 1915(245): 351.
Paranacryptus Girault, 1915(245): 349. Type species Paranacryptus sanguineus Girault;
by original designation.
List of synonyms also includes Chalcitella Westwood, 1835, Anacryptus Kirby, 1883,
Arretocrea Kirby, 1883, and Pararretoceroides Mani, 1938. All of them are based on
extralimital species.
Diagnosis: Head with scrobal cavity flat; pre and postorbital carinae well developed,
uniting below the compound eyes; antennal sockets slightly above the clypeus; forewings
with postmarginal vein absent; metafemur with one large tooth followed by comb like
teeth; petiole long with several longitudinal carinae; abdomen pointed posteriorly,
laterally compressed; T1 covering more than half of the abdomen.
106
Biology: Host data are rare but small moths of family Pyralidae and Tineidae and some
associated with stored grains are the hosts of members of this genus. Adults are usually
found on foliage of trees, shrubs but not found on grasses (Bouček 1988).
Distribution: South Asia (28 spp.), Africa (about 25 spp.), Australia (6 spp.) (Bouček
1988). From Pakistan this genus is reported for the first time from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Only two new species are reported in this genus, which are new records for the area.
Key to the species of genus Epitranus from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
1. Scrobe shallow, rugous, not reaching anterior ocellus; preorbital carina faintly
visible; anterior margin of metafemur with a sharp basal tooth …………………
................................................................................... Epitranus parvidens (Strand)
1΄. Scrobe absent; preorbital carina distinct; anterior margin of metafemur with a
basal carina leading to a blunt basal tooth ................................................................
……………………………………………... Epitranus elongatulus (Motschulsky)
11.1. Epitranus parvidens (Strand)
(Fig. 66 - 70)
Anacryptus parvidens Strand, 1912:7-8. ♂. Indonesia, Bintang (ZMHU).
Epitranus nigrus Husain & Agarwal, 1982:423, ♀. India, Hyderabad, (ZDAMU).
Other known synonyms are Chalcitella borivilia (Mani and Dubey) Husain and Agarwal
(1982), Chalcitella monticola Mani & Dubey (1973), Chalcitella malabarensis
Mani & Dubey (1973).
Diagnosis: Scrobe not deep, not reaching anterior ocellus, with horizontal rugae (Fig.
68a); preorbital carina very weak (Fig. 68b), post orbital carina distinctly meeting the
temporal margin; metafemur with a basal tooth anteriorly followed by small, spaced
comb of teeth (Fig. 67a); metacoxa shorter than abdominal petiole (Fig. 67b).
Description of Male (n=1)
Length: 3.2mm
107
Colour: Brownish black; eyes brown; antennae light brown basally, dark brown apically;
vertex blackish brown; labrum reddish brown; acropleuron reddish brown; tegulae
brownish basally, transparent apically; pleuron 3 (pl3), under side of propodeum, basal
part of metacoxa, base of scutellum, basal and apical margin of petiole and basal T1
reddish brown; metasoma shining dark brown; middle part of hind coxa blackish brown
and apical part light brown; foreleg and mesoleg completely light brown; metafemur
brown with a central reddish brown patch, trochanter and tibia brown, tarsi yellow.
Head: longer than wide (Fig. 68); scrobe not deep, with horizontal rugae not reaching
anterior ocellus (Fig. 68a); scape not reaching anterior ocellus (Fig.68c); faint preorbital
carina present (Fig. 68a); postorbital carina distinctly meeting temporal margin; temporal
margin without a deep furrow; POL 2-3x OOL.
Mesosoma: smaller than metasoma; punctations shallow, widely spaced and sparsely
hairy; anteriorly mesonotum with horizontal rugae in the middle; scutellum rounded
posteriorly, not emerginate over the propodeum (Fig. 69a); propodeum horizontal,
vertical to the abdomen (Fig. 69b); metacoxa shorter than the abdominal petiole, with a
carina on the inner basal side, punctate, laterally hairy (Fig. 67b); metafemur with a basal
tooth anteriorly followed by small, spaced teeth (Fig 67a); metatibia with a dent in the
basal half (Fig. 67c); wings hyaline; forewing with longer marginal vein, postmarginal
vein longer than stigmal vein, stigmal vein reduced into a stub (Fig. 67d).
Metasoma: petiole with 3 carinae visible dorsally (Fig. 70a), 2 lateral carinae running
through the entire length of the petiole (Fig. 69c, 70); dorsally T1 covering almost the
entire abdomen (Fig. 70b); T2-4 not visible dorsally, shagreen, slightly hairy (Fig. 70).
Female: Unknown
Material Examined
Pakistan: KPK; Peshawar. 1♂. 34° 1.3΄N, 71° 28.5΄E. 29.ix.2003. Inayatullah.
Distribution: Sri Lanka, West Malaysia, Vietnam, British N. Borneo, Philippines,
(Narendran, 1989), India (Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil
Nadu), Indonesia (Sumatra), Noyes (2014).
Host: Unknown
108
Comments: Epitranus parvidens was described by Strand (1911), and was synonymised
by couple of authors lateron. The only male specimen available in our collection fits well
to the key and description of male provided by Narendran (1989). It can be identified
with the help of following character; scrobe not deep, not reaching anterior ocellus, with
horizontal rugae; preorbital carina very weak, post orbital carina distinctly meeting the
temporal margin; metafemur with a basal tooth anteriorly followed by small, spaced
comb of teeth; metacoxa shorter than abdominal petiole.
E. parvidens is reported from Oriental region only and is not reported elsewhere in the
world which shows that the species is rare and has not been collected from other areas in
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Description provided here is based on a single male specimen of
the species. The species was collected with the help of Malaise trap installed in low
vegetation and grasses. Host of the species is not known. Less number of insect shows
that the species is not wide spread either due to unavailability of its host or narrow range
of environmental conditions favored by the insect species. Research needs to be done to
find out its hosts, favorable conditions and efficacy of the species against its host.
11.2. Epitranus elongatulus (Motschulsky)
(Figs. 71-76)
Chalcis elongatula Motschulsky, 1863, 36(3): 40. ♀. Lectotype. ZMMS.
Brachymeria elongatula (Motschulsky), Mani (1938), 23(2):174.
Epitranus shirakii Habu, 1960, 11: 299. Holotype, ♀, Japan.
Epitranus elongatulus (Motschulsky), Bouček, Z. (1982), Jour. Nat. Hist. 16: 577-622.
Diagnosis: Scrobe absent (Fig. 75a); pre and post orbital carina distinct; anterior margin
of metafemur with a basal carina leading to a blunt basal tooth followed by comb of
widely spaced teeth (Fig. 74a); metacoxa with a carina on inner basal part; anterior
margin of mesoscutum with a median rugous and unpitted strip (Fig. 76a).
Description of Male (n=1)
Length: 3.4 mm
Colour: Black and Brown. Head shining black with dark eyes; scape light brown, pedicel
dark brown, flagellum blackish; mesosoma black; tegulae brown; wings hyaline with
109
premarginal vein brown at the base, transparent or invisible marginal vein; coxa,
trochanter, femur, tibia and tarsi of fore and meso legs brown; hind leg with coxa
trochanter, femur and tibia liver brown; tarsi or hind legs yellowish brown; abdomen
blackish brown.
Head: slightly wider than thorax (Fig. 73, 76); anteriorly head convex, without scrobe;
scape not reaching the anterior ocellus; antennal base just above the clypeus; pre and post
orbital carinae distinct; postorbital carina distinctly meeting the temporal margin;
frontogenal sulcus absent; POL 1.5 to 2 x OOL.
Mesosoma: with deep but widely spaced punctations; anterior margin of mesonotum
with rough rougous strip; scutellum rounded posteriorly (Fig. 76b); propodeum vertical
anteriorly, obliquely horizontal to the abdomen posteriorly; propodeal spiracles
horizontal in position; metacoxa with a carina on the inner basal part; metafemur longer
than wide, basal margin with carina anteriorly leading to a blunt basal tooth followed by a
series of widely spaced teeth (Fig. 74a); wings hyaline, premarginal vein in forewing
slightly brown at base, marginal and postmarginal veins hardly visible; hind wing
completely transparent.
Metasoma: anterior end petiolated, length of petiole subequal to the length of abdomen,
petiole with 3 carinae on the upper margin visible from dorsal side, lateral carinae
slightly visible from above (Fig. 71a); abdomen bulging posteriorly with T1 covering rest
of the segments when viewed from above, slightly pubescent posteriorly (Fig. 72a); T2-4
covered below the T1 (Fig. 72b, 73a).
Female: Unknown
Material Examined
Pakistan: KPK; Peshawar. 1♂. 34° 1.3΄N, 71° 28.5΄E. 9.vi.2012. Toheed Iqbal.
Distribution: All over Oriental region, S. Japan, S. China (Narendran, 1989), India
(Delhi, Kerala), Sri Lanka (Noyes, 2014) and Pakistan (Peshawar) (new record).
Host: Unknown
Comments: Epitranus elongatulus can be recognized with the help of the following
characters; scrobe absent; pre and postorbital carina distinct; anterior margin of
metafemur with a basal carina leading to a blunt basal tooth followed by comb of widely
110
spaced teeth; metacoxa with a carina on inner basal part; anterior margin of mesoscutum
with a median rugous and unpitted strip.
E. elongatulus was identified with the help of available literature. The only male
species was identified and described, however, Habu (1960) has provided detailed
description of this species with name Epitranus shirakii Habu. Lateron, it was
synonymised by Bouček (1982) as E. elongatulus. Narendran (1989) mentioned
variation in the colour of this species from black to liver brown. Our specimen fits
to the description and a key to the species provided by him and is the only male
specimen available in our collection. The species is reported from different parts
of the world mainly from Oriental region. From Pakistan, this species is reported
as new record from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Host record of this species is not
available. Research needs to be initiated on the biological studies and finding host
range of the species. Moreover, research needs to be focused on rearing
techniques of the species on alternate hosts and artificial diet etc.
111
V. SUMMARY
Chalcid wasps belong to superfamily Chalcidoidea, order Hymenoptera. They are
solitary endoparasites of most of insects attacking pupae of Lepidoptera and Diptera.
Some species also attack Chrysomelid (Coleoptera), Neuroptera and other Hymenoptera,
others are hyperparasitoids whereas most of the species are primary parasites.
Host families of Chalcididae include Muscidae, Sarcophagidae, Glossinidae,
Calliphoridae, Stratiomyiidae, Tephritidae and Syrphidae (Diptera); Braconidae,
Argidae, Ichneumonidae, Megachilidae, Elasmidae and Vespidae (Hymenoptera);
Coccinellidae, Beprestidae, Bruchidae and Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera);
Myrmeleonitidae (Neuroptera); and Mengeidae (Hockeria mengenillarum (Silvestri) on
Mangenilla sp.) (Strepsiptera). Few species of chalcidids are phytophagous and their
larvae feed inside the stems and galls. They are beneficial to humans generally as they
keep various crop pests under control and many species have been imported to control
insect pests.
Despite their immense importance, no comprehensive work has been done so far
on the biology and taxonomy of these useful wasps. Noyes (2014) has reported 29
species from Pakistan. Irshad (2003) reported four genera from Pakistan with 14 species.
Out of four, three genera with six species are reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Recently Iqbal et al., (2013), reported 3 species of genus Hockeria from the same area.
This number is too less when compared with neighboring countries. The reason is
incomplete surveys, poor collection and no taxonomic studies.
Present study was initiated with the objectives to conduct taxonomic studies and
to present diagnostic and morphological notes of Chalcididae with their distribution and
bio potential in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Based on 200 specimen collected during 1998-
2014, it was found that Chalcididae species are very rare and can only be found in a
specific period of time at particular places. Wide area was surveyed for collection and it
was revealed that Chalcididae are found in plan areas rather than hilly areas of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa. In current research majority of the genera are represented by 2 or 3
specimens. The key constructed for the identification of genera and species of
112
Chalcididae of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan is the first key for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
and Pakistan.
In current study, four subfamilies were reported from the different locations of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Among these four subfamilies, Haltichellinae is the most generic
subfamily with 7 genera under 2 tribes. Number of species in this subfamily is 10 which
is highest number of species under any subfamily in current study. Subfamily
Chalcidinae is followed by 2 tribes having 2 genera. Genus Brachymeria under tribe
Brachymeriini of the subfamily Chalcidinae is the most speciose genus having 8 species
in our collection. Subfamily Dirhininae is followed by only one tribe and one genus
Dirhinus having second highest number of 5 species under one genus. Subfamily
Epitraninae is followed by only one genus Epitranus. In current study, we report two
species of genus Epitranus.
Total of 26 species were examined, identified and described in current studies.
All these species are new to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As the species are reported for the
first time from this area, they are also new records for Pakistan. The species are identified
with the help of available literature and confirmed by comparing it with the paratypes of
the species available at Bohart Museum of Entomology, University of California, Davis,
USA. Descriptions have been prepared from the most observable characters. The
Comstock Needham system of wing vein nomenclature is employed. An ocular
micrometer was used for measurement of different parts of the specimen. Body length
was measured from the anterior head margin to the posterior end of the metasoma along
the mid dorsal line with the help of digital camera fitted to the microscope after
calibration. For completeness, more than one specimen was measured (when available)
and average measurement was calculated for each taxon. Specimen were examined and
photographed by stereo zoom microscope Nikon SMZ 745T with camera power 5.01mp
and Leica MZ 75 with mounted cameras. Layers of pictures were taken and combined to
make it one image through Helicon Focus software. Adobe Illustrator (version 6) was
used for editing the pictures. Line drawings were made with the help of Camera Lucida.
Line drawings and pictures are provided at the end of thesis. Synonymy and diagnostic
characters are given for each taxon.
113
VI. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
From current study it is concluded that genus Brachymeria is one of the most
speciose genus of the family Chalcididae in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Eight species of the
genus are identified and reported for the first time which is the highest number of species
under any genus in current study. Genus Dirhinus is the second most speciose genus
found in the current study. The genus comprises of 5 species from different localities of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Among all the chalcidids, members of genus Antrocephalus were
frequently encountered from the plain areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Genus
Kriechbaumerella comprises the largest specimen in current collection collected from
pupae of wax moth.
Based on the above mentioned facts it can be concluded that extensive research
needs to be done on the biology of chalcidids. Number of hosts per species parasitized as
well as efficacy of each species against particular pests should be studied. Moreover their
importance as natural enemies to various insect pests may not be underestimated and
their true importance should be shared with the farmer’s community by implementing the
species as a part of IPM. Non judicious use of pesticides not only kills the pests, but also
effect the natural enemies and disturbs natural balance of eco system.
It is therefore recommended that the areas should be explored more and more to
collect these and other natural enemies present in the ecosystem. When the area is
explored, these natural enemies should be collected alive, brought to lab and reared to
check their efficacy against their hosts. After successful experimentation, the culture
should be released in the field and the farmer community should be taught about their
existence as useful and farmer’s friendly organisms.
Despite this, I will encourage young Entomologists to study taxonomy as there is
lot of fun and learning about the Creation of Almighty Allah. These small creatures have
such great diversification which normal eye cannot see but a taxonomist can observe.
Active lab, enough collection, latest equipment, access to literature, guidance
from expert, access to international collections for holotypes, paratypes and other
identified material are some of the tough jobs that a taxonomist should keep in mind
before starting taxonomy. Moreover taxonomists work hard than any other entomologist
114
but still their work remains unnoticed and unappreciated due to non availability of
experts. In some cases the species gets much closer in morphological characters that they
cannot be separated easily. These species are called cryptic species. To identify them
accurately, we can use latest scientific tools such as DNA barcoding, insect molecular
systematic and phylogenetic study of closely related species.
115
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Hymenoptera of the Oriental zoological region. Part V. Memoirs & Proceedings of
the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society. 41(4):39.
Cameron, P. 1904. On some new genera and species of Hymenoptera. Entomologist.
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Cameron, P. 1905. A new species of Chalcis from Borneo. Journal of the Straits Branch
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