Taxonomic study on the spider wasp genus Ceropales Latreille, 1796 (Pompilidae: Ceropalinae) with description of two new species from India

The spider wasp genus Ceropales Latreille, 1796 from India was studied, resulting in the discovery of two new species in the nominotypical subgenus: Ceropales (Ceropales) anaghae Anju, Girish Kumar & Thejass, sp. nov. and C. (C.) keralaensis Anju, Binoy & Thejass, sp. nov. Description of the new species with illustrations, comparisons with congeners and a key to Indian species of the subgenus are also provided.

A peculiar case of parasitisation with two new species of wasps parasitizing the rice leaf-roller Pelopidas mathias (Fabricius, 1798) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) from southern India

Paddy, Oryza sativa L. (Poales: Poaecea) is infested by a series of lepidopteran, coleopteran, hemipteran, and acarine pests in India. Of the long list, the species Rice Leaf-Roller Pelopidas mathias (Fabricius, 1798) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) is one of most encountered defoliators on paddy. Here we record and describe with illustrations, a new parasitic complex comprising of two new species of parasitic wasps, viz. Brachymeria eastwoodi Binoy, sp. nov. and Sympiesis eastwoodi James & Santhosh, sp. nov. on the pupae of P. mathias from southern India. The parasitoid complexes on P. mathias are also augmented.

A review of the genus Spilomena Shuckard (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) with the description of six new species from India

The Indian species of Spilomena Shuckard are reviewed resulting in the description of six new species viz., S. attenboroughi Tessy, Sureshan et Binoy, S. fulvopleuris Tessy, Sureshan et Binoy, S. reticularis Tessy, Sureshan et Binoy, S. sahyadriensis Tessy, Sureshan et Girish Kumar, S. tsunekii Tessy, Sureshan et Girish Kumar, and S. tuberculata Tessy, Sureshan et Girish Kumar, all from Southern India. A key to Indian species of Spilomena is provided.

A taxonomic study of Methocha Latreille (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae: Methochinae) from India with description of three new species

The genus Methocha Latreille (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae) from India was studied, resulting in the description of a new species based on females, Methocha krombeini Hanima, Girish Kumar Binoy sp. nov., and two new species based on males, M. paraceylonica Hanima, Girish Kumar Binoy sp. nov., and M. shyamagatra Hanima, Girish Kumar Sureshan sp. nov. from India. A key to species of Methocha occurring in the Indian subcontinent is provided.

Review of Indian Dasyproctus Lepeletier amp; Brullé 1835 (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) with description of four new species

The Indian species of the genus Dasyproctus Lepeletier Brullé (Crabroninae: Crabronini: Crabronina) are reviewed resulting in the descriptions of four new species viz., D. attenboroughi, D. leclercqi, D. niger, and D. tsunekii. Keys to both sexes of Indian Dasyproctus are provided. Comparisons within D. buddha (Cameron) and D. agilis species groups allowed the withdrawing of Crabro (=Dasyproctus) idrieus Cameron from synonymy and raising D. agilis orientalis (Cameron) to full species status. Dasyproctus amplicarinalis Yue Ma, 2021 is synonymized with D. idrieus (Cameron, 1901) and D. hainanensis Yue Li, 2021 with D. geethae Binoy Girish Kumar, 2021.

A review of the mud-dauber wasps of genus Sceliphron Klug (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) from India

The mud-dauber wasp genus Sceliphron Klug (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) is reviewed, with six species and six subspecies reported from various parts of India. The Palaerctic species, S. destillatorium (Illiger), is recorded for the first time from the Indian subcontinent. The subspecies S. madraspatanum formosanum van der Vecht is also recorded for first time from the Indian subcontinent. The distribution records of species and subspecies within various states of India are augmented. A modified key to the species of Sceliphron occurring in India is provided. Intraspecific variation within nominal species is discussed.

A new species of square-headed wasp Dasyproctus Lepeletier amp; Brullé (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Crabronini) from India, with notes on its biology

Dasyproctus geethae Binoy Girish Kumar sp. nov. is described with illustrations of both sexes, and of preimaginal stages with notes on its biology and ethology. New prey records of Diptera of the families Drosophilidae, Hybotidae, Stratiomyidae and Dolichopodidae are recorded for the genus.

A new species of Foenatopus Smith (Hymenoptera: Stephanidae) from Andaman Islands, India

The family Stephanidae Leach, 1815, is cosmopolitan, yet a group of infrequently encountered parasitoids with 364 described extant species in 13 genera (Aguiar et al. 2010; Binoy et al. 2020) and nine species in four extinct genera (Aguiar 2004; Aguiar et al. 2013; Engel Huang 2017) worldwide. The Indian Stephanidae was recently revised (Binoy et al. 2020), recognising a total of 30 species in four extant genera viz., Foenatopus Smith, Megischus Brullé, Parastephanellus Enderlein and Stephanus Jurine.

A review of Stephanidae (Hymenoptera: Stephanoidea) from India, with the description of five new species

The family Stephanidae from India is reviewed, resulting in the description and illustration of one new species of Megischus Brullé, two new species of Foenatopus Smith and two new species of Parastephanellus Enderlein. In addition, a Chinese species Foenatopus weii Chen, van Achterberg Xu and a range extension of Stephanus Jurine are reported from India. The male of Stephanus bidentatus van Achterberg, 2002, is newly reported with descriptions and illustrations. Keys to genera and species of Indian Stephanidae are provided along with a checklist of Stephanidae occurring in India.

Description of a new species of spider wasp Genus Machaerothrix Haupt<br />(Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) from India with reports on its host ssociation and nesting behaviour

The little-known spider wasp genus Machaerothrix Haupt, 1938 is recorded for the first time from India with the description and illustrations of both sexes of a seventh species from the World. The biology, habitat, prey preference and transport, nest structure and nesting behaviour of the new species is studied and the association of the wasps with salticid spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) is here validated.

Omentoplasty in the management of filarial lymphoedema

A trial of omentoplasty was carried out on 20 patients with unilateral filarial lymphoedema to assess its role in the reduction of oedema volume after failed lymphonodo-venous shunt (LNVS) or as a primary procedure. Omentoplasty was done through a midline laparotomy. The omentum was mobilized from the colon, preserving both gastroepiploic vessels, and transferred to the thigh either through the lower end of the laparotomy incision or through a separate stab and placed subcutaneously in the upper third of the thigh. There was no operative mortality. Morbidity was mainly incisional hernia and superficial wound infection. Fourteen of 18 patients had more than 25% reduction in oedema volume during the immediate postoperative period, and 5 of the 18 had more than 50% reduction. However, there was a gradual loss of response with time. Age, gender, grade of lymphoedema, duration, and previous surgery did not influence the outcome. The incidence of incisional hernia could be reduced by transferring the omentum through the midline. There was a statistically significant reduction in postoperative adenolymphangitis attacks whether or not the oedema volume was reduced. In some patients the oedema was reduced sufficiently to permit subcutaneous excision of the lymphoedematous tissue. There appears to be a definite but limited role for omentoplasty in patients who have failed LNVS.