Studies were conducted for the first time on the gregarious endoparasitoid, Apanteles taragamae Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to determine its biology on Diaphania indica (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The mean number of eggs laid per host was 24.63 and these eggs increased greatly in size before hatching. Larva passes through three instars as determined by the shape and size of the mandibles. Mean development time from egg to adult was 15.6 days at 24.26°C and 80–85% r.h. The mean number of adults emerging from each host was 14.61 and the sex ratio was 1:1.31 (males:females). The mean number of eggs laid by each female was 242.6. Mean adult longevity on 20% honey was 9.30 days for males and 10.70 for females.

Apanteles taragamae is a major parasite of Diaphania indica, a serious peston cultivated cucurbits. Variations in the parasitism of D. indica infesting different cucurbits in thefield were observed. Four cucurbits viz: ivy gourd, cucumber, bitter gourd and musk melon were screened to identify the host plant(s) favourable to A. taragamae. Maximum parasitism was recorded on bitter gourd andivy gourd. These two cucurbits were favoured over musk melon and cucumber when leaf hairness was examined. Both ivy gourd and bitter gourd had smoother leaves than cucumber or musk melon and parasitism of larvae on smooth leaf plants was greater. However, on the basis of parasite development on the four cucurbit reared host larvae, it was concluded that D. indica's preference for bitter gourd and ivy gourd was due to the influence of the host habitat (leaf hairness) and not due to physiological factors.