Research Paper

Two new fig wasp species of genus Sycoscapter Saunders, 1883 (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae) with a key to species of the genus from India

Achintya Pramanik, Debjani Dey

Published on: 23 April 2019

Page: 139 - 148

DOI: 10.6165/tai.2019.64.139

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    Abstract

    Two new species of non-pollinating fig wasp genus Sycoscapter Saunders, 1883 namely Sycoscapter benghalensis Pramanik & Dey, sp. nov. collected from Ficus benghalensis and S. benjaminae Pramanik & Dey, sp. nov. collected from F. benjamina are described and illustrated. A diagnostic key is presented to distinguish both sexes of 11 known Sycoscapter species reported from India including the new species. Further the affinity of males and females of Sycoscapter species to closely related genera of subfamily Sycoryctinae is also discussed.

    Keyword: Ficus benghalensis, F. benjamina India, Non-pollinating fig wasp, Sycoryctinae, Sycoryctini, Taxonomy

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