Some interesting observations on the parasitisation of Danaus chrysippus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) by Sturmia convergens (Diptera: Tachinidae) from West Bengal, India

The tachinid fly, S. convergens (Wiedemann,1824) is one of the most important parasitoids, causing heavy mortality in D. chrysippus (Linneaus, 1758). The present work documents for the first time, the gregarious behavior of S. convergens in the host larvae. The parasitoid can very well complete its development within the larval stage of the host. A single host larva is capable of provisioning the full development of up to 8 larvae of S. convergens. The study also reports them as true larval and larval-pupal parasitoids of D. chrysippus on Calotropis gigantea (Linneaus) Dryand, 1811.