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The present report forms the first consolidated document dealing with the taxonomy and systematics of the two superfamilies Proctotrupoidea and Platygastroidea (Hymenoptera: Insecta) in Kerala, India. This taxonomic treatment has also presented identification keys at family, generic as well as species levels. A total of 118 species under 45 genera and seven subfamilies and four families are treated in this document, along with descriptions of 44 new species.
For the superfamily Proctotrupoidea, considerable information on the species diversity with regard to the study area, Kerala, has been furnished. Under Diapriidae, the study reports 61 species in 19 genera, of which 44 species are new to science. The study documents from Kerala for the first time the subfamily Belytinae through four genera and six new species. Along with five genera of Diapriinae forming the first report, thus a total of nine diapriid genera are being reported for the first time in Kerala. This study also documents the first recorded instance of Calogalesus Kieffer, an African genus, from India.
In the light of present study, a few generic transfers have been made resulting in new combinations. Accordingly, under Belytinae, Cinetus indicus Sharma has been transferred to Belyta Jurine, while in Diapriinae, Spilomicrus nilamburensis Sharma has been transferred to Odontopria Kieffer, S. karnatakensis Sharma and S. nilgiriensis Sharma to Basalys Westwood. It was also found that all the Indian species of Psilus Panzer had to be placed under Coptera Say. The family Proctotrupidae is represented in Kerala by one genus and four species.
As to the Scelionidae of the superfamily Platygastroidea, 14 genera of Scelioninae with 25 species, and two genera of Teleasinae with 12 species have been dealt with in detail. It was found that the vast diversity of Telenominae can be addressed only through a separate in-depth study of the group; such a study will be taken up in due course. Of the 16 genera of Platygastridae documented in India, the present study through 15 species, documents six genera in Kerala, of which, three are reported for the first time.
