Review of the genus Sparasion Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea: Sparasionidae) of the Oriental region with descriptions of new species from India

Background The genus Sparasion , endoparasitoids of Tettigoniidae, occur in the Nearctic, Palearctic, Afrotropical and Oriental regions. It is absent in the Neotropics and Australasia. Of the thirteen species found in the Oriental region only a single species is from India. Results Two new species groups - Sparasion bilahari species group and Sparasion manavati species group - are proposed for species from the Oriental region. Thirty-six species are described and illustrated of which twenty-four are new: Sparasion albopilosellus Cameron, 1906 (Pakistan); S. bhairavi Veenakumari, sp. n . (India); S . bhupali Veenakumari, sp. n . (India); S . bihagi Veenakumari, sp. n . (India); S . bilahari Veenakumari, sp. n . (India); S. cellularis Strand, 1913 (Taiwan); S. coconcu s Kozlov and Lê, 2000 (Vietnam); S. coeruleus Kieffer, 1905 (Sumatra); S. cullaris Kozlov and Lê, 2000 (Vietnam); S . darbari Veenakumari, sp. n . (India); S . deepaki Veenakumari, sp. n . (India); S. domes Kozlov and Lê, 2000 (Vietnam); S . elbakyanae Veenakumari, sp. n . (India); S. formosus Kieffer, 1910 (Taiwan); S . hindoli Veenakumari, sp. n . (India); S . kalyani Veenakumari, sp. n . (India); S . kanakangi Veenakumari, sp. n . (India); S . karivadana Veenakumari, sp. n . (India); S. lividus Johnson, Masner & Musetti, 2008 (Philippines); S . manavati Veenakumari, sp. n . (India); S . meghmalhari Veenakumari, sp. n . (India); S. micromerus Kozlov and Lê, 2000 (Vietnam); S . pahadi Veenakumari, sp. n . (India); S. philippinensis Kieffer, 1913 (Philippines); S . ratnangi Veenakumari, sp. n . (India); S . rupavati Veenakumari, sp. n . (India); S . salagami Veenakumari, sp. n . (India); S . shulini Veenakumari, sp. n . (India); S. sinensis Walker, 1852 (China); S . sivaranjini Veenakumari, sp. n . (India); S . syamalangi Veenakumari, sp. n . (India); S . todi Veenakumari, sp. n . (India); S. travancoricus Mani and Sharma, 1981 (India); S . vanaspati Veenakumari, sp. n . (India); S . visvambari Veenakumari, sp. n . (India) and S . zeelafi Veenakumari, sp. n . (India). Keys to Oriental species of Sparasion are furnished. Intrasexual colour morphs among females of Sparasion is reported. Lectotype is designated for Sparasion cellularis Strand. Conclusions Twenty-four new species are added to the Indian fauna of Sparasion . Previously described species of Oriental Sparasion are redescribed and illustrated. Keys are furnished for all Oriental species.