Indian Journal of Entomology
Open Access
SCOPUSWeb of Science
  • Year: 2024
  • Volume: 86
  • Issue: 3

Diversity and biology of the indian strepsiptera with a pictorial key

  • Author:
  • Poulami Hui1, Sukhendu Roy2, Niladri Hazra1,*
  • Total Page Count: 20
  • Published Online: Mar 1, 2025
  • Page Number: 1004 to 1023

1Entomology Research Unit, Department of Zoology, The University of Burdwan, Burdwan, Purba Bardhaman, 713104, West Bengal, India (moupou1997@gmail.com): Orcid Id: 0000-0003-1455-7427)

2Department of Zoology, Gushkara Mahavidyalaya, Guskara, Purba Bardhaman, 713128, West Bengal, India (sukhenduroy2512@gmail.com; Orcid Id: 0009-0008-2584-6762)

*Email: nhazra@zoo.buruniv.ac.in (corresponding author): Orcid Id 0000-0001-8149-9445

Online published on 1 April, 2025.

Abstract

Strepsiptera is a monophyletic group of entomophagous, obligate endoparasites, stylopising a wide range of insect hosts belonging to 34 families of Zygentoma, Polyneoptera, Paraneoptera, and Holometabola. So far 30 species in 14 genera and six families of Strepsiptera are known from India. The zoogeographic distribution of the Indian species of Strepsiptera and their known hosts are presented. The biology of Halictophagus australensis Perkins has been explored in detail. Stylopisation of Cofana spectra Distant (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) by H. australensis lengthens the life span of C. spectra. A pictorial key to the Indian species of Strepsiptera is presented.

Keywords

Strepsiptera diversity, Biology, Endoparasite, Key, Hypermetamorphosis, Primary larva, Stylopization, Ecology, Distribution, India