Species Diversity and Tri-Trophic Associations of Aphidophagous Coccinellidae (Coleoptera: Insecta) in India

The family Coccinellidae, or ladybirds, includes nearly 6,000 species worldwide, with about 550 species in India, many of which are important predators of aphids and other soft-bodied pests. Aphids, a sap-sucking bugs with 794 species documented in India, are major agricultural pests due to their rapid reproduction, wide host range, and role as vectors of over 200 plant viruses. Aphidophagous coccinellids play a key role in suppressing these pests, making them vital components of biological control and integrated pest management programs. In India, nine tribes of Coccinellinae are aphidophagous, collectively comprising 148 ladybird species feeding on 181 aphid species across 350 host plants, forming 3,102 tri-trophic associations. Among these, Coccinellini is the most diverse and ecologically important tribe (72 species, 165 aphid prey, 2,345 triplets), followed by Coccidulini, Chilocorini, and Aspidimerini, while other tribes contribute fewer records. Regional data indicate the highest number of associations in Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir, and West Bengal, with major aphid prey including Aphis gossypii Glover, Aphis craccivora Koch, Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach), Brevicoryne brassicae (Linnaeus), Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch) and host plants with the most interactions include brassica vegetables, mustard, brinjal, maize, apple, and rose. Detailed tribe-level accounts show variation in prey specialization: some genera like Coccinella Linnaeus and Cheilomenes Chevrolat are highly polyphagous, while others exhibit narrower prey ranges. Aspidimerini and Coccidulini are well represented with multiple species and broad prey spectra, whereas Hyperaspidini, Noviini, Platynaspidini, Sticholotidini, and Telsimiini have fewer aphidophagous species and more localised records. Overall, these results confirm that India harbours a highly diverse fauna of aphidophagous ladybirds, which hold significant potential in integrated pest management (IPM) as an eco-friendly substitute for chemical insecticides. Further investigations into their feeding ecology, prey preference, and habitat adaptability will be essential for enhancing their effective use in sustainable aphid control within Indian agroecosystems.