The parasitoids of Myzus spp. (Aphididae: Hemiptera) and their distribution in India

In this study, the parasitoids of 12 species of Myzus Passerini, 1860 (Aphididae: Hemiptera) are enlisted along with their host aphids and host plants distributed in different states and union territories of India. The study demonstrated that 48 species of parasitoids (6 species belonging to Aphelinidae; one species belonging to Encyrtidae and 41 species of Aphidiinae (Braconidae) parasitising 12 species of aphids belonging to the genus Myzus Passerini, 1860 infesting 82 plant species in 21 states/union territories of India. Most of the host plants are highly economically important agricultural crops. A total of 261 tritrophic associations were recorded. Aphelinidae is represented by a single genus, Aphelinus with 6 species while Aphidiinae (Braconidae) comprises 40 species belonging to 10 genera, among which Aphidius matricariae Haliday, 1834 is a polyphagous and diversified parasitising 6 species of aphids infesting 29 plant species in 11 states/union territories of India.