Taxonomic Studies on Some Indian Genera of the Family Mymaridae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), Egg Parasitoids of Hemiptera

Sap sucking insects belonging to the order Hemiptera includes plant hoppers, aphids, white flies etc. have emerged as major agricultural pests of some economically important crops. They feed either on plant juice directly from the vascular system or causes indirect damage by transmission of plant viruses. Mymarid parasitoids are found more successful biological agent for these pests. Hemipteran eggs are the common hosts of mymarid parasitoids. Some Indian species of the genera Anagrus, Arescon, Erythmelus, Gonatocerus, Mymar and Stethynium parasitize eggs like, Amrasca devastans (Indian cotton jassid), Balclutha spp., Nephotettix cincticeps, Nephotettix nigropictus, Nephotettix virescens, Nilparvata lugens, Pundaluoya simplicia and Recilia dorsalis, etc. The present work deals with the taxonomic study of mymarid parasitoids and their distribution.