BRACONINAE PARASITOIDS (IIYMENOPTERA, BRACONIDAE) FROM THE LEAF MINING LEPIDOPTERA, WITH DESCRIPTION OF THREE NEW SPECIES

The lepidopteron leafminers are considered as serious pests of economic importance world widely. In rearing of lepidopteran leafminers viz., Acrocercopsphaeospora Meyr. and Cosmopterix phaeogastra (Meyr.) and Cameraria virgulata (Meyr.) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) from various host plants in northern India; three species of parasitoids viz., Bracon acrocercophagus Ahmad and Pandey, sp. nov., Brocon cosmopteryx Ahmad and Pandey, sp. nov., and Bracon virgulatae Ahmad and Pandey, sp. nov., (Hymenoptera: Braconidac) were observed. All three species are described as new to science and data on habitat, brief diagnoses and host records for all parasitoids species are provided. Data related with all braconinc species associated with leafminers is also provided.