First record of Brachymeria excarinata Gahan, 1925 (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) parasitizing Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) in west Africa

Specimens of Brachymeria excarinata Gahan (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) were collected in April 2016 from Brassica oleracea L. (Brassicaceae) cabbage plots at Lac Rose (14°49’52.93″ N, 17°09’20.94″ W), Senegal. This represents the first documented occurrence of this parasitoid species associated with the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), in both Senegal and West Africa. The parasitoids emerged from field-collected larvae of P. xylostella, which were subsequently reared under laboratory conditions. Specimens were identified by Gérard Delvare, an internationally recognized taxonomist and specialist in Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera). At the time of sampling, the climatic conditions at Lac Rose were characterized by an average annual minimum temperature of 23°C. The detection of B. excarinata adds to the known complex of natural enemies of P. xylostella, potentially enhancing the prospects for its biological control in the region.