A new subgenus ofLathromeromyia [Hym.: Trichogrammatidae] an egg parasite ofTingidae [Het.] from India

Abstract

Subgenus Lathromeromina nov. of the genus Lathromeromyia with a type species Lathromeromyia (Lathromeromina) tingiphaga sp. nov. has been described and illustrated. Four species of Tingid hosts and their host plants are recorded.In his original description of the type species Lathromeromyia perminuta (recorded as parasite of the egg of a sugarcane Cicada) of the genus Lathromeromyia, Girault (1916) made no mention of an annellus, but recorded the presence of a "funicle". Doutt & Viggiani (1968) after having re-examined the same mounted specimen redescribed it as possessing 2 annelli and omitted a funicle. Hayat (1981) after having confirmed the absence of a funicle in this genus, mentioned the occurrence of a hypopygium as additional character of identification.In his description of a new species (L. dimorpha), Hayat (1981) further recorded the male as brachypterous and extremely minute. Lin (1981) has mentioned the occurrence of a small anneUus as a taxonomic character of this genus. Altogether 3 species, one (L. perminuta Girault) from Pasoeroean region, Java, the other (L.cercopicida (Risbec)) from Cameroons and 3rd (L. dimorpha Hayat) from India have been so far known from this genus.The generic characters described by earlier workers include the presence of 2 annelli and trichation on the thorax. While comparing the present material with the earlier descriptions given forLathromeromyia, the authors found (1) the thorax to be almost bare without the characteristic trichation (2) antenna with only 1 annellus (3) hind wing with only 1 row of discal ciliation and (4) the legs and wings not exceeding the body length. On the basis of these characters the present species is placed as Lathromeromina, a new subgenus of Lathromeromyia. The features common for both the genus and subgenus are (1) the marginal vein curves distally and convexly as stigmal vein (2) wings shape, not broad at the apex as in Oligosita Female : Minute ; length entire 0.5 ram, width across the eyes 0.115 ram, and across the thorax 0.125 mm ; from, clypeus, thorax and abdomen brown ; antennae, vertex, tibiae and tarsi pubescent. Head ( fig. 1.1) round when viewed anteriorly ; eyes sanguineous and widely separated ; 3-6 ocelli ; antennae ( fig. 1.3) inserted frontally ; scape elongate with prominent radical, 3.1 times longer than its greatest width ; pedicel 1.9 times longer than its width and half the length of the scape ; annellus single, minute ; club 4 segmented, long, 4 times longer than its width and 1.3 times longer than the scape ; club segments with 10-15 thin, pointed bristles, 0.4 times as long as the club ; mandibles ( fig. 1.2) prominently bidentate, subtfiangular. Thorax ( fig. 1.7) short, 0.6 times as long as the abdomen ; pronotum broad anteriorly and narrow posteriorly ; scutellum short, transversely elongate, almost bare, lacking prominent setae ; fore wings ( fig. 1.4) long, remiglum equal to the body length, broadest at the anterior 4/5 th region, hyaline ; basal infuscafion extending up to the stigma ; marginal vein long, st...