Abstract:
The study entitled " Biosyslematics and barcoding of Pteromalidae
(Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) of Kerala" was conducted during the 2017-19 at the
Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani with the
objective of identification, morphological and molecular characterization and
documentation of parasitoid wasps (Pteromalidae) of Kerala. The base material for
study was field collected specimens. Purposive sampling was carried out in 38
locations spread across 14 districts of Kerala. The specimens were collected by
random sweep net method.
The collections were made in the morning and afternoon when the insect
activity was at the peak. The sweep contents were immediately transferred into
absolute alcohol and the location and date of collection were recorded on the
containers. The field collected specimens were examined under high power stereo
microscope and initially all the specimens coming under Chalcidoidea were sorted
out based on superfamily characters and stored in labelled vials in absolute alcohol.
Pleomalid wasps were separated out from these vials and stored in alcohol in
another set of vials according to location. The specimens were card mounted for
morphometric analysis and characterization.
The study revealed 2 genera and 4 species of Ptcromalids which are new to
the World of science. The two new genus fall under the subfamily Miscogasterinae
and Pteromalinae respectively. The four new speicies discovered are, Dinarmus sp.
nov. 1, Mokrzeckia sp nov. 1, Panstenon sp. nov. 1 and Pansienon sp. nov. 2. The
Dinarmus sp. nov. 1 was compared to Dinarmus maculatus^ Mokrzeckia sp. nov. 1
was compared to M pint and Panslenon sp. nov. 1 and P. nov. 2 was compared to
P. collare
