title: A new species of Parapanteles Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from India reared from Abisara echeria Stoll (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae) with key to the Indian Parapanteles species.
abstract: A new species of gregarious endoparasitoid, Parapanteles echeriae Gupta, Pereira & Churi, sp. nov., bred from Abisara echeria Stoll (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae) on host plant Embelia sp. (Myrsinaceae), is described and illustrated from Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Abisara echeria, commonly known as plum judy, is a small striking butterfly prevalent in Asia. This is the first ever record of a parasitic wasp associated with Abisara. Parapanteles echeriae is distinguished from P. sireeshaae Ahmad & Akhtar in having propodeum with areola 1.2x as long as wide; anterior diagonal carina meeting anterior margin of propodeum in one half; veins r and 2RS of fore wing merging in a smooth curve; yellow coloured legs and tegulae brownish black. A key to the Indian species of Parapanteles is also provided.
authors.affiliation: National Bureau ofAgriculturally Important Insects, Post Bag No. 2491, H. A. Farm Post, Bellary Road, Hebbal, Bangalore 560 024, Karnataka, India. drankitagupta7@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ankita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Blaise
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Paresh V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Churi
mesh_terms: D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D002080:Butterflies / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D014863:Wasps / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development