Cotesia anthelae (Wilkinson, 1928) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) a natural parasitoid of Cirrochroa thais (Fabricius, 1787) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), first report from the Oriental region

Authors

  • Ankita Gupta ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, H.A. Farm Post, Bellary Road, Hebbal, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560024, India.
  • P. Manoj SciGenom Research Foundation, Nedumpura, Cheruthuruthy, Thrissur District, Kerala 679531, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.7564.14.2.20683-20685

Keywords:

Cirrochroa thais, Cotesia anthelae, larval parasitoid, Oriental Region, Tamil Yeoman

Abstract

Field surveys conducted during 2020–2021 in Nedumpura, Cheruthuruthy, Thrissur district of Kerala yielded Cotesia anthelae (Wilkinson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) as a gregarious larval parasitoid of a nymphalid butterfly Cirrochroa thais (Fabricius) (Tamil Yeoman) along with its hyperparasitoid Mesochorus sp. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). This is the first report of C. anthelae parasitizing a nymphalid butterfly, earlier reports were from a host belonging to Anthelidae (Lepidoptera: Bomycoidea). Also, this is the first report of C. anthelae from the Oriental region, earlier reports are confined to Australia. The present study provides morphological identification of C. anthelae and biological details of its host. 

References

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Published

26-02-2022 — Updated on 26-02-2022

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Issue

Vol. 14 No. 2 (2022)

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Copyright (c) 2022 Ankita Gupta, P. Manoj

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