Tuesday, October 2, 2012

[Hymenoptera • 2011] Cassidibracon gracillariae • First host record for the Palaeotropical braconine wasp genus Cassidibracon Quicke (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) with the description of a new species from India


Figures 1–4. Cassidibracon gracillariae Quicke sp. n., specimens and host cocoon 
Cell^D® light micrographs. 1 holotype, habitus 2 holotype and associated host remains 3 holotype and paratype 4 detail of host remains of paratype.

Abstract 
A new species, Cassidibracon gracillariae Quicke sp. n. from India, is described and illustrated and differentiated from other Indian species. The three known specimens were each reared from distinctive, exposed, bubble-coated cocoons of the gracillariid moth Stomphastis chalybacma (Meyrick, 1908), which superficially resemble insect egg clusters. This is the first reported host record for the genus Cassidibracon Quicke. 
Keywords: Cocoon, Gracillariidae, Plesiobracon group, parasitoid

First host record for the Palaeotropical braconine wasp genus Cassidibracon Quicke (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) with the description of a new species from India. Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 28: 135–141, doi: 10.3897/JHR.28.3