On Indian species of Choeras Mason (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Abstract

Two new species, viz, Choeras achterbergi and C. pappi from Kerala have been described with their affinities. C. psarae (Wilkinson) has been redescribed. A key to the Indian species of Choeras Mason is provided. C. achterbergi has the following distinctive features, viz, face without keel, mesonotum uniformly punctate, mesopleural sulcus punctate, T1 smooth without a V-shaped furrow basally, and body length 2.6 mm. C. pappi can be distinguished from other species in having vertex smooth, propodeum without lateral carinae, forewing without areolet, stigma equal to vein R1 in length, and T1 at apex as wide as basal width. C. psarae can be recognised by characters such as: face with more or less smooth line or keel, mesonotbm strongly punctate, mesopleural sulcus smooth, T1 coarsely and sparsely punctate at apex with a V-shaped furrow basally, and body length more than 4 mm.