INDIAN FOREST RECORDS. 
VoI.IV.] 1912 [Part II. 
PART I. 
On the Parasitic Hymenoptera reared at Delira Dun, Northern India, from 
the Lac ( Tachardia ) and Sal Insects. 
By P. CAMERON. 
Introduction. 
I N this paper I have enumerated and described the Insects sent me 
by Dr. A. D. Imms, Forest Zoologist, from Dehra Dun, where they 
were mostly reared or collected by himself. The most important, as they 
may prove to be of economic importance, are those reared from the Lac 
and Sal Insects. There can be no doubt that the small insects belonging 
to the Chalcid groups of the Aphelina and Encyrtina are direct parasites 
of the Lac and Sal Insects, but as regards some of the other Chalcidida 
and the Braconida , it is probable that they prey on moth larvae which 
feed on the Coccids. That a Tineid larva does feed on the lac insects is 
certain from the observations of Mr. E. E. Green {cf., Proc. U. S. Nat. 
Mus., XVIII, 633) in Ceylon.* If it be the case that they destroy Tineid 
larvae which kill the Lac insects they, i.e., the Braconidae, etc., must be 
looked upon as beneficial insects, while the Encyrtina and Aphelina are 
injurious, as they kill useful insects. From the systematic point of view 
the most interesting is the species of Cyclopleura , of which I had received 
a species from Borneo previously. 
As bearing on the Lac Insect, it may be useful to note that Mr. E. 
E. Green reared from Tachardia albizzia in Ceylon: Encyrtus tachardia, 
How. ; Anastatus tachardia How. (. Eupelmina ) ; Holcopelte, sp. ( Entedo - 
nina); Tetrastichus, sp. (a hyperparasite no doubt); Bracon greeni, 
How. and Aphrastobracon flavipennis , How., the last two being pro¬ 
bably parasitic on moth larvae. 
* Two species of Lepidoptera, e.g., Eublemma amabilis and Holocera pulverea are common 
parasites of Butea lac in India. A. D. Imms. 
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