Tri-trophic Associations of Aphidophagous Ladybirds of the Tribes Hyperaspidini, Noviini, Platynaspidini and Sticholotidini (Coccinellidae: Coleoptera) in India

A checklist of tri-trophic associations (triplets) involving aphidophagous species of four tribes of subfamily Coccinellinae (Coccinellidae: Coleoptera) is prepared across various states and union territories of India. In 13 Indian states and union territories, 24 species of these tribes (Hyperaspidini: 2 species, Noviini: 3 species, Platynaspidini: 3 species, and Sticholotidini: 16 species) were found to be aphidophagous, consuming 24 aphid species that infest 44 plant species with 85 tritrophic associations. Information is given about how many species of each tribe prey on how many aphids infest different host plants across India. Since no efforts have been made to record their tritrophic interactions in several parts of India, a thorough survey programme is required to catalogue these aphidophagous ladybird predators in those states and union territories. Among the 24 species of aphid prey recorded, 12 species of these tribes devour mostly Aphis gossypii Glover, while 10 species of them prey on Aphis aurantii Boyer de Fonsc., 6 species on Aphis craccivora Koch and 5 species on Myzus persicae (Sulzer). Most preferred food plants are Capsicum and Citrus spp. (each 9 triplets) followed by Solanum spp. (8 triplets), Malus and Camelia spp. (each 5 triplets). A comprehensive survey approach is necessary to catalogue these aphidophagous ladybird predators in those unexplored states and union territories because, in fact, no attempts have been made to document their tritrophic interactions in those parts of India.