A Catalogue of Tri-trophic Associations of Aphidophagous Arthropods in Uttar Pradesh, India

Tri-trophic relationships among host plants, aphids, and their natural enemies are fundamental for maintaining ecosystem balance and serve as the backbone of biological pest management. This study compiles a detailed checklist of aphidophagous arthropods, their aphid prey, and related host plants in Uttar Pradesh state of India. Altogether, 70 predator species from Arachnida and Insecta were recorded feeding on 39 aphid species across 106 host plants, yielding 1,089 tri-trophic associations in 33 districts, most of them concentrated in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Major predator groups included spiders (Araneae), mantids (Mantidae), ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae), hoverflies (Syrphidae), reduviid bugs (Reduviidae), green lacewings (Chrysopidae), and brown lacewings (Hemerobiidae). Ladybird beetles (46 species) were the most dominant, forming 823 associations. Hover flies (12 species) contributed 201 associations, mainly Episyrphus balteatus and Ischiodon scutellaris, valued for their combined roles in aphid predation and pollination. Lacewings (4 species) added 119 associations, with Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi emerging as the key predator. Spiders, mantids, and reduviid bugs were less represented, pointing to insufficient studies in certain districts. Overall, the checklist underscores important predator–prey–plant interactions, spatial and crop-level patterns, and provides a valuable foundation for ecological research, IPM programs, and biodiversity conservation, while also highlighting the need for expanded surveys in underexplored areas of the state.