RECORD OF CHELONUS PANZER (BRACONIDAE: CHELONINAE) FROM CENTRAL INDIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT The genus Chelonus Panzer comprises of important larval parasitoids of several lepidopteran pests. Eight species of Chelonus viz., Chelonus (Chelonus) deogiri, Chelonus (Chelonus) gastrus, Chelonus (Chelonus) dwibindus, Chelonus (Chelonus) narayani, Chelonus (Chelonus) shafeei, Chelonus (Microchelonus) notaulii, Chelonus (Chelonus) nr. indicus and Chelonus (Microchelonus) scutellatus were recovered during taxonomic survey of forests and their adjoining agro-forestry areas of Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. These parasitoids are undoubtedly important as they play an effective role in balancing the ecosystem by keeping a check and control on the population of insect pests. Out of these recorded Chelonus species, some of the promising species can be utilized in biological control of key forest insect pests, after going through their further studies on biology, natural field incidence, laboratory efficacy and their mass rearing techniques.