Cephaleta australiensis (Howard)

Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae: Eunotinae

Head, mesosoma and metasoma shiny metallic black, antenna brown except scape and apical segment of club darker brown, legs yellowish brown except all coxae black, tarsi dark brown, first pair of legs slightly darker brown. Head much wider than mesosoma, vertex sharply angulate behind ocelli, posterior ocellus touching hind margin of vertex; gena strongly shiny between hairs, posteriorly bound by a distinct, fine carina. Antennal formula 11143 in female; male antenna nine-segmented, with all funicular segments longer than broad, first one curved and longer than scape. Thorax / mesosoma shiny between hairs which are placed on papillae. Notaular lines complete. Scutellum with silvery white hairs in apical third, apically slightly produced over propodeum. Hind corner of propodeum forming a sharp straight vertical edge with an angular tooth dorsally. Fore wing pilose.

 

     Adult, dorsal view
   Adult, lateral view

Widely distributed throughout India (Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal). Oriental region. Nearctic.

Commonly collected in association with several species of Coccoidea (Sternorrhyncha) including Coccus spp., Ceroplastes spp., Saissetia spp., Drepanococcus chiton, Pulvinaria psidii (Coccidae); Cerococcus indicus (Cerococcidae); Ferrisia virgata (Pseudococcidae); and Asterolecaniidae.