Shoeba Binte Anis

A revision of the Indian species of Cheiloneurus Westwood (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Encyrtidae)

Abstract The Indian species of the encyrtid genus Cheiloneurus are revised. A total of 32 species are recognized from India, including 9 species which are described as new. Also 6 species are placed in synonymy, and 5 species are recorded for the first time from India. The species recorded for the first time from India are: gonatopodis, chrysopae, latiscapus, saissetiae,and malayensis. The species placed in synonymy are the following with their senior synonyms mentioned in brackets: angustifrons Fatima & Shafee (bangalorensis), montanus Kaul & Agarwal (latifrons), brevipennis Fatima & Shafee (yasumatsui), albifuniculus Hayat et al. (latiscapus), insulus Kaul & Agarwal (saissetiae), indicus Singh & Agarwal (nigricornis). A key to the Indian species is also given. Species of this genus are generally hyperpara-sitoids on other hymenopteran primary parasitoids of mainly coccoids. The tribe Cheiloneur-ini is considered a synonym of Ectromatini.

The Indian species of Acmopolynema with notes on Acanthomymar (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Mymaridae)

Abstract Notes are given on the Indian species of Acmopolynema. Eight species are recognized, of which two are described as new. A. dravida is synonymized under A. maculatum. The genera Grangeriella and Neonarayanella are synonymized with Acmopolynema. A key to the Indian species of the genus based on females is given. Brief notes are given on Acanthomymar.

Descriptions of two new species of Mymaridae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from India, with some records

Abstract Two new species of Mymaridae are described. These are Acmopolynema shrawastianum Hayat & Anis, and Mymar roopum Hayat & F. R. Khan. Also material pertaining to 6 species is recorded, and comments are given on male of Himopolynema species near parviscutum Taguchi.

The Indian species of Polynema with notes on Stephanodes reduvioli (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae)

Abstract The Indian species of the mymarid genus Polynema Haliday are revised. A new subgenus, Dorypolynema, is proposed for P. mendeli. Two new species are described and 3 species are placed in synonymy. A key is given to the 10 presently known species of Polynema. Stephanodes reduvioli is recorded based upon specimens collected in some Indian States.

The Indian species of Homalotylus (Hymenoptera : Encyrtidae)

Abstract The Indian species of the encyrtid genus Homalotylus Mayr are revised. Twelve species are recognized as valid, including two species described as new. Three species are recorded for the first time from India, and four specific names are placed in synonymy. Also a key is given for identification of the species. The tribes Homalotylini, Echthroplexiellii and Brethesiellii are placed in synonymy with Aphycini.

Assessment of aphid infestation levels in some cultivars of mustard with varying defensive traits

Phloem-sucking mustard aphid (Lipaphis erysimi) is a major pest of mustard (Brassica juncea). Pot experiment with randomised block design was conducted with five replicates of each of five cultivars (Alankar, Pusa Jai Kisan, Rohini, Sakha and Varuna) of the mustard for their degree of inherited resistance and/or susceptibility to the mustard aphid infestation. Forty-five days old (from date of sowing) pot-grown plants of all selected cultivars of mustard were exposed to 40 adult mustard aphids. The aphid-infested plants were kept in specially designed net houses of fine mesh to protect from predators and/or migration of aphids from one to other host. The aphid population and some growth attributes of the selected cultivars of mustard were recorded 15 and 30 days later (i.e. at 60 and 75 days after sowing). The aphid population multiplied more rapidly on Rohini than other four cultivars. Cultivar Alankar resisted most and supported to least number of aphid’s off-springs. Statistically analysed growth attributes (fresh plant mass, dry plant mass, protein, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents), resistance attribute (proline) and population demography of aphids revealed that some inherited characteristics of avoidance, antibiosis and repellence to herbivores helped cultivar Alankar to excel despite equal degree of aphid attacks as on other cultivars. Cultivar Rohini for the want of such resisting factors remained vulnerable to aphid herbivory. These two cultivars (Alankar and Rohini) form good research material for comparative studies on plant defences to herbivory and a tri- trophic resistance through volatile chemical signalling.

Plant Defenses Against Insect Herbivory

Herbivory, the act of consumption of plant biomass by specialist animals, regulates the cycling of biotic and abiotic ecosystem components, through a complex process transferring materials among various trophic levels. Herbivores include insects and mammals of varying sizes, the former being most important due to their high diversity. Insects consume the biomass in varying proportions, depending on their size and density. Apparent checks and balances between prey and predators or hosts and parasites are chemically governed functions. Plants and herbivores receive and send signals to each other as well as to organisms in higher trophic levels (predators) through volatile chemicals. Besides several morphological defence mechanisms, plants evolved specific chemical defences against insects. Among herbivores, insects also co-evolved mechanisms to overcome the volatile chemical arsenals of plants. In this review the role of plant defense against insect herbivory is discussed. The plant responses to repel insects and the synthesis of volatile chemicals to attract predatory insects or parasites are reviewed. Plants evolved genes (activated on insect attack) inducing the secretion of volatile chemicals. Such signalling attracts predators or parasites and is absent in plants when they are experimentally injured. Signalling is caused by the reaction with elicitors contained in the oral secretions of herbivorous insect. Through chemically operated keys, plants and insects regulate ecosystem functioning, allowing co-existence in wild and natural ecosystems.

A new species of Xiphogramma Nowicki (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from Saudi Arabia

The genus Xiphogramma Nowicki (1940) is recorded for the first time from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the description of a new species, Xiphogramma hayati sp. nov. An updated key to the world species of this genus is also provided.

A new genus of Trichogrammatidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from India

A new genus and species, Ayaanella globugaster M.T. Khan & Anis gen. nov. and sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) is described from two females collected in Uttar Pradesh State of India.

A revision of the Indian species of Oligosita Walker (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae).

The Indian species of the genus Oligosita Walker, 1851 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) are revised. One new species, Oligosita aseta Begum & Anis, sp. nov., is described based on specimens collected from Kerala, India. A key to the 16 Indian species of the genus is also given.