none Apanteles taragamae is a major parasite of Diaphania indica, a serious pest on cultivated cucurbits. Variations in the paersitism of D. indica infesting different cucurbits in the field were observed. Four cucurgits 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 and ivy gourd. These two cucurbits were favoured over musk melon and cucumber when leaf hairness was examined. Both ivy gourd and bitter gourd that smoother leaves than cucumber or musk melon and p;arasitism 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 physiologic factors.