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First Record of Genus Blascoa (Pteromalidae) from Asia and Discovery of Its Novel Phytophagous Interaction with Ephedra

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Abstract

This paper reports Blascoa ephedrae Askew, 1997, from Kashmir Himalaya, which is first record of this insect species from Asia. To validate this new record, a brief diagnosis, photographic illustrations and distributional map of the species are provided. In addition, the present study first time describes a novel interaction between B. ephedrae and a gymnosperm plant Ephedra intermedia, wherein the insect forages the female cones and completes life cycle by overwintering within the seeds of this plant species. Such a phytophagous behavior suggests the role of B. ephedrae in retarding the reproductive potential of E. intermedia in Kashmir Himalaya.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are sincerely thankful to Department of Forest, Kashmir Division for their permission for field surveys. The financial support received from SERB-DST, Govt. of India, New Delhi, under the project “Taxonomic characterization and conservation assessment of Ephedra in India” (grant no: EMR/2015/000167) is highly acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Biodiversity & Taxonomy, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, 190006, India

    Zubair Ahmad Rather & Anzar Ahmad Khuroo

  2. Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, 190006, India

    Abdul Ahad Buhroo

  3. Insect Systematics Research Laboratory (ISRL), Department of Zoology, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri, Jammu & Kashmir, 185234, India

    Sajad Hussain Parey

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  1. Zubair Ahmad Rather
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  2. Abdul Ahad Buhroo
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  3. Sajad Hussain Parey
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  4. Anzar Ahmad Khuroo
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Correspondence to Zubair Ahmad Rather.

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Significance statement: The present study reports Blascoa ephedrae Askew as first record from Asia with a brief diagnosis, photographic illustrations and distributional map. It also describes a novel interaction between B. ephedrae and a gymnosperm plant Ephedra intermedia for the first time. These findings have implications for taxonomy, biogeography, ecology, behaviour and plant-insect interactions of the investigated taxa.

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Rather, Z.A., Buhroo, A.A., Parey, S.H. et al. First Record of Genus Blascoa (Pteromalidae) from Asia and Discovery of Its Novel Phytophagous Interaction with Ephedra. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-024-01553-z

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