Taxonomic studies of the subfamily ophioninae hymenoptera ichneumonidae of north Kerala

Abstract

Subfamily Ophioninae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) is a moderately large monophyletic group that primarily consists of solitary koinobiont endoparasitoids of Lepidoptera. It is one of the most diverse and major group of family Ichneumonidae and perform the important ecosystem service of biological control by parasitizing various important pests. They are distributed in almost all regions of the world from subarctic tundra to desert and tropical rain forest with greatest species diversity in tropical forest between 1200 and 1700 metres in altitude. Currently 32 genera and more than 1,100 species are described. Ophionine wasps are almost nocturnal or crepuscular and large populations are frequently attracted to light. Their common characteristics include a testaceous body, large ocelli, large eye and long antennae which are together known as the “Ophionoid facies” in Hymenoptera. Ophioninae members belonging to the genera Dictyonotous Kriechbaumer, Heinrichiella Hedwig, Hellwigiella Szepligeti and Hellwigia Gravenhorst have characteristics such as a black body, small ocelli and short antenna that are suitable for a diurnal behaviour of life. The present investigation is attempted to understand the taxonomy and diversity of Subfamily Ophioninae from North Kerala. The study uncovered a total of 39 species belonging to four genera recorded from Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Malappuram districts. Out of these, 11 new species viz., Enicospilus anokha sp. nov, Enicospilus benazeer sp. nov, Enicospilus ghatensis sp. nov, Enicospilus kannurensis sp. nov, Enicospilus kasargodensis sp. nov., Enicospilus malabaricus sp. nov. Enicospilus punctatus sp. nov Enicospilus robustus sp. nov., Enicospilus rufus sp. nov. Enicospilus squamacutus sp. nov, Enicospilus wayanadensis sp. nov. and Dicamptus neosinuatus sp. nov. were described as new to science. One species Stauropoctonus narendrani Soumya and Sudheer was described and published from the study area. Two species Enicospilus bres and Enicospilus concentralis were recorded for first time from India, nine species are newly reported from the state of Kerala and 17 species are new reports from study area. The present research work also includes the redescription of already known but poorly described species. The study also provides dichotomous key to the subfamilies, genera and species of Ophionine wasps. Distribution maps to species of all genera collected in subfamily Ophioninae made using QGIS online software, are provided. The study documents the host parasitic index of species dealt and also provided an updated checklist of the Indian Ophionine wasps.