Ramachandran Nair, K.Pillai, G.B.2014-07-042014-07-042007-02J.Plantn.Crops 1982 v-10 p-33-38http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/3659Courtship and mating behaviour of Elasmus nephantidis Rohw., the monophagous ectoparasitoid on the prepupal caterpillars of Nephantis serinopa Meyrick include wing vibration, licking the antennae of the female with mouth parts, antennal stroking, leg tapping and post-copulatory biting on the females abdomen. The female adopts a copulation posture by raising the abdomen and exposing the genital pocket on receiving sexual stimulation from the courting male. Males are capable of mating at very close intervals. Females allow courtship even when they are non-receptive and actually do not require further matings. Eggs are laid inside the hosts cocoon one by one in groups after stinging and paralysing the host. Egg to adult stages are completed in 11 days and longevity is shorter in summer than in winter. Sex ratio is normally female-biased. The merits and demerits of E. nephantidis as a biocontrol agent of N. serinopa are discussed.enArticle