Scientific name
Peribaea orbata (Wiedemann)
Taxonomic position
Diptera: Tachinidae: Goniinae: Siphonini
Diagnosis
Body small, about 3-4 mm long. Head with two pairs of proclinate orbital setae and strong outer vertical setae; sexually not dimorphic. The only known genus of Tachinidae with a pair of well developed, subequal prostigmatic setae, one pointing downward and the other pointing upward (Fig.1), positioned a little below anterior spiracle. Scutellum with subapical setae convergent and usually crossing towards the tips. Mid tibia with one strong anterodorsal seta and one slightly shorter (Fig. 3). Hind tibia with three strong preapical setae on dorsal surface (Fig. 4). Wing with costal margin conspicuously broken or incised at the apex of subcosta; vein R 4+5 extensively setulose; sixth vein extending to wing margin. Abdomen without discal setae on any segment.
Commonly associated with Spodoptera litura (F.) and Helicoverpa armigera (Huebner) and can be identified by the comparatively very small size for a tachinid and the pair of strongly developed prostigmatic setae.
Fig. 1. Lateral view, showing prostigmatic setae (indicated by arrow marks)
Fig. 2. Head, dorsal view
Fig. 3. Mid tibia
Fig. 4. Hind tibia
Images
Adult - dorsal, lateral view
Distribution
Widely distributed in the Oriental and Australasian regions.
Hosts / Biology
Parasitic on the larvae of several species of Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) such as Spodoptera litura (F.), S. exempta, Helicoverpa armigera (Huebner), Pseudaletia unipuncta (Haworth) and Mythimna loreyi (Duponchel) (Crosskey, 1973). The parasitised larvae of S. litura remain alive even after the emergence of adult parasitoids. Rao & Satyanarayana (1989) studied its biology on S. litura.
References
- Crosskey, R.W. 1976. A taxonomic conspectus of the Tachinidae (Diptera) of the Oriental region. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Entomology, Supplement, 26: 1-357.
- Crosskey, R.W. 1976. A taxonomic conspectus of the Tachinidae (Diptera) of the Oriental region. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Entomology, Supplement, 26: 1-357.
- Rao, R.S.N. & Satyanarayana, S. V. V. 1989. Studies on Peribaea orbata Wied. (Diptera-Tachinidae), a larval parasite of tobacco caterpillar Spodoptera litura F. Tobacco Research, 15(1): 1-4.
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