Research Article Biology and Medicine, 3 (2) Special Issue: 270-281, 2011 270 MAASCON-1 (Oct 23-24, 2010): “Frontiers in Life Sciences: Basic and Applied” eISSN: 09748369, www.biolmedonline.com Aphelinid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) of armoured scale insects (Homoptera: Diaspididae) from India *Rehmat T, Anis SB, Khan MT, Fatma J, Begum S Section of Entomology, Department of Zoology, A.M.U, Aligarh-202002, India. *Corresponding Author: tabassum.ento@gmail.com Abstract The members of the family Diaspididae are among the most important pests in agriculture and considered as a promising target for the biological control programmes. These insects may attack any part of plant by sucking sap, injecting toxic saliva, due to which the trees show heavy damage resulting in collapse. However, these insects are usually parasitized by the members of the families like Aphelinidae, Encyrtidae and Signiphoridae. Among these families of parasitic hymenoptera, the members of the family Aphelinidae appear to be a dominant factor in bringing about partial to complete control of these insects. The taxonomic study of these parasitoids is essential to provide correct identification without which successful control measures cannot be achieved. Present work is a preliminary step in providing knowledge of Indian Aphelinid genera which acts as an efficient biocontrol agent against above mentioned pest species and found to be helpful in biological control programmes. Keywords: Aphelinidae; armoured scale insects; parasitoids; India. Introduction The members of the family Diaspididae are commonly called as “Armoured Scale Insects” (Fig. 3) belonging to the important family in the Coccoidea because of their number, abundance and economic significance. Many species of `` armoured scales `` are among the most important pest in agriculture and considered as a promising target for the biological control programmes. They are found on all parts of the plant but are most noticeable on the fruit. Heavy infestations may cause discoloration, shoot distortion and leaf drop. The tree's bark may split and the twigs and branches may die back and this sometimes shows heavy damage resulting in collapse. Chemical control is difficult because the insects are protected by their hard waxy coverings. They are also becoming resistant to many insecticides and pesticides. However, these armoured scales are usually parasitized by a number of chalcidoid parasitoids belonging to the families Aphelinidae, Encyrtidae and Signiphoridae. Among these families of parasitic Hymenoptera, the members of the family Aphelinidae appears to be a dominant factor in bringing about partial to complete control of armoured scale insects (Rosen and DeBach, 1979; Viggiani,1990). In spite of the fact that large number of armoured scale Insects are responsible for damage of fruit trees resulting in loss of fruit production, so far there is no comprehensive work dealing with the armoured scale parasitoid of insects from India, however, several publications dealing with the taxonomy of Indian Aphelinidae, parasitoids reared from armoured scale hosts were also described. The following publications are of use in identifying the parasitoids: Rosen and DeBach (1979); Agrawal (1984); Hayat (1974, 1983, 1985, 1986,1998); Compere (1955). In present work, a generic key for the identification of the Aphelinid parasitoids of the armoured scale insects is given along with the list of these parasitoids, their total number of species in world and India and species of armoured scale insects (hosts) with their distribution in India. Family Aphelinidae The Chalcidoid family Aphelinidae contains 32 genera in total among which 21 genera occur in India, of these the species of the genera known to be exclusively parasitic on armoured scale insects are Aphytis Howard, Coccobius Ratzeburg, Coccophagoides Girault, Encarsia Foerster, Marlattiella Howard, Pteroptrix Westwood, and Proaphelinoides Girault, and of these the genera Bardylis and Prophyscusare not represented from India (Hayat, 1985, 1989). The genus Encarsia Foerster with over 200 described species in the world contains about 20% species that are considered parasitoids of armoured scale insects. Diagnosis of Aphelinids Female: Small to medium sized chalcids not exceeding 1.5 mm in length, antennae 3-9 segmented, excluding the radicle and anelli