Parapanteles regale, Gupta, Ankita, Churi, Paresh V., Sengupta, Ashok & Mhatre, Sarang, 2014

Gupta, Ankita, Churi, Paresh V., Sengupta, Ashok & Mhatre, Sarang, 2014, Lycaenidae parasitoids from peninsular India with description of four new species of microgastrine wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) along with new insights on host relationships, Zootaxa 3827 (4), pp. 439-470 : 455-470

Protapanteles spp. ( Hymenoptera : Braconidae )

Plates. XV (Figs 54−57); XVI (Figs 58−60).

Brief diagnosis. Mason (1981) mentioned characters separating it from Cotesia – Smoothness of propodeum and latero distal excavation of female fore tarsi as the key characters. Metasomal second tergum with median tergite, usually subtriangular, narrower in the anterior region than posterior. Propodeum with medium sculpture and rugosity (rugosity lesser in Cotesia and more in Glyptapanteles ) without median longitudinal carina. Fore tarsus with apico ventral margin of apical segment excavated, with conspicuous seta.

Host. Tarucus balkanicus nigra on the host plant Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. (host of Protapanteles sp.01) and Tarucus callinara on the host plant Ziziphus jujube Mill. (host of Protapanteles sp.02).

PLATE X. Charops obtusus obtusus Morley . Figs 35−36. 35—Habitus. 36— Mesosoma & first tergite (dorsally).

PLATE XI. Tajuria cippus (Fabricius) . Figs 37−41. 37—Unparasitized caterpillar. 38—Cocoon of P. regale n. sp. with caterpillar. 39—Cocoons of A. folia with caterpillars. 40 & 41—Adults of T. cippus , male.

PLATE XII. Brachymeria lasus (Walker) . Figs 42−47. 42—Habitus. 43— Anthene lycaenina (Felder) caterpillar. 44. Parasitized pupa (right) of A. lycaenina . 45—Parasitized caterpillar of A. lycaenina . 46 & 47. Adult butterfly, A. lycaenina .

PLATE XIII. Apanteles folia Nixon . Figs 48−51. 48—Dorsal view. 49— Mesosoma . 50—Wings. 51—Metasoma.

PLATE XIV. Rathinda amor (Fabricius) . Figs 52−53. 52—Caterpillars. 53—Adult butterfly.

PLATE XV. Protapanteles sp.01. Figs 54−57. 54—Dorsal view. 55—Wings. 56— Mesosoma with first mediotergite. 57—Metasoma.

PLATE XVI. Figs 58−60. 58—Cocoon of Protapanteles sp. 0 1. 59—Caterpillar of Tarucus balkanicus nigra Bethune-Baker. 60—Adult butterfly, Tarucus b. nigra .

PLATE XVII. Figs 61−64. Protapanteles sp. 0 2. 61—Habitus. 62—Solitary cocoon. 63—Caterpillar of Tarucus callinara Butler. 64—Adult butterfly mating pair of T. callinara .

PLATE XVIII. Figs 65−66. Apanteles sp. 65—Dorsal view, female. 66—Propodeum with metasoma. 67—Host caterpillar Jamides celeno (Cramer) with solitary Apanteles cocoon.

PLATE XIX. Arhopala amantes Hewitson . Figs 67−72. 67—Healthy caterpillars. 68—Parasitized caterpillar. 69—Pupa. 70. Adult butterfly. 71—Female adult. 72—Male adult.

PLATE XX. Spindasis vulcanus (Fabricius) . Figs 73−76. 73—Caterpillar. 74—Parasitized caterpillar. 75—Pupa. 76—Adult butterfly.

PLATE XXI. Ovipositors. Figs 77−80. 77— Parapanteles eros n. sp. 78— Parapanteles arka n. sp. 79— Parapanteles esha n. sp. 80— Parapanteles regale n. sp.

TABLE 1. List of the Lycaenidae host species, associated parasitoids, stage of parasitism, nature of cocoon, and associated host plant.

S. No. Lycaenid host species Parasitoid species Stage of Nature of Host plant parasitism Cocoon

1. Chilades pandava Parapanteles eros n. larval Solitary Cycas revoluta Thunb. (Cycadaceae)

(Horsfield) sp.

2. Curetis thetis (Drury) Parapanteles arka n. Larval Gregarious Millettia (= Pongamia ) pinnata sp. (L.) Panigrahi ( Fabaceae )

3. Curetis thetis (Drury) Brachymeria lasus Pupal Solitary Millettia (= Pongamia ) pinnata (Walker) ( Fabaceae )

4. Prosotas dubiosa (Semper) Parapanteles esha n. Larval Solitary Pithecellobium dulce (Fabaceae) sp.

5. Tajuria cippus (Fabricius) Parapanteles regale Larval Solitary Loranthus sp. Jacq. ( Loranthaceae )

n. sp.

6. Tajuria cippus (Fabricius) Apanteles folia Larval Solitary Dendrophthoe falcata Nixon (L.f.) Ettingsh ( Loranthaceae )

7. Tajuria cippus (Fabricius) Charops obtusus Pupal Solitary Loranthus sp. ( Loranthaceae ) obtusus Morley

8. Anthene lycaenina (Felder) Brachymeria lasus Pupal Solitary Drypetes roxburghii (Euphorbiaceae)

(Walker)

9. Rathinda amor (Fabricius) Apanteles folia Larval Solitary Ixora brachiata (Rubiaceae) Nixon

10. Tarucus balkanicus nigra Protapanteles sp. 0 1 Larval Solitary Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. (Rhamnaceae)

Bethune-Baker (code: 25113)

11. Tarucus callinara Butler Protapanteles sp. 0 2 Larval Solitary Ziziphus jujuba (code: 10613) Mill. ( Rhamnaceae )

12. Jamides celeno (Cramer) Apanteles sp. Larval Solitary Millettia (= Pongamia ) pinnata (L.) Panigrahi ( Fabaceae )

13. Arhopala amantes Hewitson Apanteles folia Larval Gregarious Lagerstroemia speciosa L. ( Lythraceae )

Nixon

14. Spindasis vulcanus Apanteles folia Larval Solitary Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. (Rhamnaceae)

(Fabricius) Nixon

Species Parapanteles eros n. sp. Parapanteles arka Parapanteles esha n. sp. Parapanteles regale n. Parapanteles echeriae

n. sp. sp. Gupta et al.

Host caterpillar Chilades pandava Curetis thetis Prosotas dubiosa Tajuria cippus Abisara echeria Stoll

(Horsfield) Lycaenidae (Drury) Lycaenidae (Semper) Lycaenidae (Fabricius) Lycaenidae Riodinidae

Cocoon solitary gregarious solitary solitary gregarious

Female body length in

Angle between veins 2Rs Number of costulae in 10 12 11 12 8

scuto-scutellar groove

Antenna colour Scape, pedicel and scape distinctly antenna scape brown antenna scape brown scape brownish black, flagellum black yellowish brown in basal 1/3rd, apical apically and ventrally (pedicel dark 1/3rd yellow yellowish brown; pedicel brown yellow brown; flagellar segments brownish black

Ratio of 1r and 2Rs vein 1.52 2 1 1.52 1.27

of fore wing

General body colour Black Black Black Black except Black

metasoma mix of

yellow brown and

black; first and

second tergites black

T2/T3(median length) 0.72 subequal 1.18 0.76 0.72 Material examined. Protapanteles sp. 0 1 —One female, INDIA, Maharashtra, Chinchoti, Naigon, 25.i.2013, coll. Paresh V. Churi, ex. Tarucus balkanicus nigra on the host plant Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. , NBAII //Bra/Prot/ sp/25113. Protapanteles sp. 0 2 —one female, Madhya Pradesh, Jabalpur, 10.vi.2013, coll. Ashok Sengupta, ex. Tarucus callinara Butler on the host plant Ziziphus jujube Mill. , NBAII //Bra/Prot/sp/10613.

Remarks. Both the species were different but species identity could not be ascertained as single wasps were reared from their respective hosts.