The Braconid Genus Aphrastobracon, Ashm.

Extract

The genus A phrastobracon was erected by Ashmead in 1895 to include an interesting new Braconid that was bred out from the lac insect, Tachardia albizziae, Gr., by Mr. E. E. Green, in Ceylon, and the species was named A. flavipennis. Since then we have no further records of this insect from Ceylon or elsewhere. Even Mr. Green does not refer to it in connection with the same lac insect in his recent last volume on the Coccidae of Ceylon, though he has made mention of another Braconid, Bracon greeni, Ashm., bred by him from the same host and described by Ashmead as the same time as A. flavipennis. However, this insect was noted by the writer of this paper some years ago in South India, and latterly during the course of his studies on the local Coccidae specimens of this species were reared from two or three common scale-insects. It was at first thought to be a parasite on the scales and was identified by a well-known authority as a species of Megalommum, Sz.; a record to this effect may be found in the author's “ List of Parasitic Hymenoptera of Economic Importance from South India ” published in 1921. Further studies and observations made on the bionomics of this insect in recent years revealed its true habit as a parasite, not on the scale, but on a Lepidopterous caterpillar feeding on the scale, and its correct identification was obtained after consulting two or three specialists. A brief reference to the insect, explaining its habits, is made in the author's recently published memoir on the nim mealy scale, Pulvinaria maxima, Gr.