Brachymeria excarinata, Gahan (family Chalcididæ) a pupal parasite ofPlutella maculipennis, Curtis in South India

Brachymeria excarinata Gahan is a pupal parasite ofPlutella maculipennis. This, together withTetrastichus is able to reduce the numbers of the pest considerably. The wasps are fairly long lived, the maximum longevity in one case being 1–10 days. Normally, the parasite lays only one egg in the pupa provided sufficient number of pupae are present. The maximum number of eggs laid by a female has been noted to be 213. No hyperparasites have been collected so far. Cases ofparthenogenesis have, however, been met with. The parasite takes 10–15 days to complete its life-cycle.