Ichneumonidae of Indian Heliothis Ochsenheimer* Nikam P.K. Entomology Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Marathwada University, Aurangabad-431 004 (India). *This research has beep financed in part by a grant made by the United States Department of Agriculture. ARS authorized by U.S. India Fund. Grant No. FG-In-708, Project No. IN-ARS-339. Abstract Three Heliothis species viz., H. armigera (Hubner), H. assulta Guenee and H. peltigera (Schiffermuller) occur in India. The most common species, H. armigera infests 182 cultivated and uncultivated plant species. The two other species cause damage to seven plant species each. In India, altogether 100, 12 and 17 parasitoid species were reared on H. armigera, H. assulta and H. peltigera, respectively. Out of these parasitoid species, 26, 2 and 4 belong to Ichneumonidae. The ichneumonids are mostly larval parasitdds of Heliothis species preferring young, medium to old host instars. Amongst these, Porizontine Campoletis chlorideae Uchida, Eriborus argentiopilosus (Cameron) and D. fenestralis (Holmgren) are the promising key parasitoids which parasitise 10–80%, 1–67% and 8–18% H. armigera larvae, respectively. In addition, 3 species of Ophionine Enicospilus Stephens need exploration for their utility in the biological control of Heliothis species in India. Larvae of all the three Heliothis species are parasitised by C. chlorideae, whereas that of H. armigera and H. peltigera by E. argentiopilosus. Top |