First discovery of the Neotropical species Brachymeria trinidadensis (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae, Brachymeriinae) in India

Abstract

Brachymeria trinidadensis (Narendran & Varghese) (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae), described originally from Trinidad, West Indies, is newly reported from the state of Kerala, India, as a likely accidental introduction. A possible parasitoid association with an unidentified Bembix (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) larva feeding on an unidentified species of Tabanidae (Diptera) is suggested based on collection of the female near the Bembix tunnel. The species is redescribed based on the Kerala female and it and the female holotype of B. trinidadensis are both illustrated with colour photographs. Brachymeria trinidadensis is considered a ‘long tailed’ species of Brachymeria based on females of the species having a conspicuously elongate syntergum, but is removed from the subconica species group of Brachymeria based on the head lacking a transverse carina across the vertex posterior of the median ocellus. Brachymeria laetiliae Burks is also removed from the subconica species group based on the head lacking the transverse carina. Type material of the long tailed species B. grisselli (Narendran & Varghese), B. kraussi (Narendran & Varghese), B. aculeata (Walker) and B. producta (Olivier) are illustrated by photographs. Variation of B. trinidadensis from other long tailed (syntergum) congeners is also provided.