HYMENOPTEROUS BIOPESTICIDES AND THEIR PRELIMINARY BIOCONTROL POTENTIAL FROM WESTERN MAHARSHTRA INCLUDING GHATS

<strong>ABSTRACT</strong> Hymenpterous parasitoids are biopesticides scattered in the environment which develop on pest insects and kill them. The use of pesticides leads tremendous pressure on various ecosystems causing pest resistance, secondary pest outbreak, pest resurgence, pollution, health hazards and destruction to ecocycles. Hence, biopesticides (parasitoids) play a very crucial role in pest control and keeping environment ecofriendly. A total of 96 hymenopterous parasitoids belonging to 6 prominent families namely, Ichneumonidae, Braconidae, Chalcidae, Eulophidae, Trichogrammatidae and Aphelinidae were recorded parasitizing and killing various insect pests both from plain and forest (Western Ghats) ecosystems. The family Braconidae was dominant over others by the number of individuals (39) parasitizing pest insects. 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