Taxonomical identification Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Diptera: Phoridae)
The materials examined are as follows: INDIA: Karnataka, Shivamogga, Kudurekonda, 14° 7′ 59″ N, 75° 30′ 48″ E, 666 m, 15.ix. 2020, Coll. Sharanabasappa, ex. Fall armyworm (3♀, 3♂).
The adult fly was yellowish brown with many long bristles; the supra-antennal bristles were equidistant. The thorax was brownish dorsally, the prothoracic pleura had many small hairs and 2–4 long ventral bristles; the mesopleuron was lacking distinctive bristles, the scutum had indistinct brown markings having a pair of long bristles at the posterior margin; the scutellum had 2 pairs of bristles; legs were paler; the femur was enlarged, it was darker apically with dark brown small hairs, halters creamy yellowish, wings with half of the costal margin densely fringed; and the abdomen was darker brown (Fig. 1f, g).
Preliminary biological data of Megaselia scalaris (Loew)
As many as 30–40 maggots emerged out of the dead pre-pupae (Fig. 1a) and pupae of FAW. Two days post release, the oviposition by the parasitoids was observed on the outer surface of late-instar larvae in which they are about to pupate and also on pre-pupae and pupae. The adult fly laid pearl white coloured eggs of about 1–15 on the outer surface of the FAW 6th instar larvae (Fig. 1b) and pre-pupae (Fig. 1c). One to 2 days after egg-laying, creamy white maggots emerged. Three larval instars were recorded by mean durations of 1–2 days each (Fig. 1d). The pupa is of coarctate type, light brown in colour, with 2 pairs of spiracles observed on each end of the pupa (Amphineustic). Another interesting structure on the male and female pupae was the presence of respiratory tube or thoracic horn. The pupal period ranged from 10 to 11 days. Male and female pupae could be distinguished based on size (Fig. 1e). Usually, adult females were larger than the males. The fed adults’ longevity on 10% honey solution ranged 6–7 days under laboratory conditions.