Scientific name

Brachymeria lasus (Walker)

Taxonomic position

Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Chalcididae: Chalcidinae

Diagnosis

Adult large and robust. Head, mesosoma (thorax) and abdomen black, antenna black. Fore- and middle legs with femora yellow in apical half, tibiae and tarsi yellowish, tarsi apically brown. Hind coxa black, hind femur black with apex yellow; base of hind tibiae black. Hind coxa with a distinct ventromesal tooth. Scutellum with posterior margin weakly emarginate or rounded. First tergite of abdomen smooth.

 Thorax, dorsal view

Images

 Adult, dorsal view
   Adult, lateral view

Distribution

Worldwide (India: Andhra Pradesh; Karnataka; Kerala; Tamil Nadu).

Hosts / Biology

Commonly collected on several species of Lepidoptera, occasionally hyperparasitic. Known hosts include Conogethes punctiferalis, Diaphania indica, Earias spp., Anadevidia peponis, Opisina arenosella, Papilio polytes, Thysanoplusia orichalcea, etc. Narendran (1989) and Noyes (2012) have given detailed list of hosts parasitized by B. lasus.

References

  • Narendran, T.C. 1989. Oriental Chalcididae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). University of Calicut, Calicut.
  • Noyes, J. 2012. Universal Chalcidoidea database.