04 Haz 2025 Çarşamba
Predators and parasitoids of aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae) infesting cucurbit crops in India
Abstract : The predators and parasitoids of cucurbit crop-infesting aphids (Aphididae: Hemiptera) and their distribution across different states and union territories of India are discussed in this article. The majority of them are known to prey on or parasitise Aphis gossypii Glover, Aphis spiraecola Patch and Aphis craccivora Koch. The predators belong to six families of the spiders and five families of insects (Coccinellidae, Syrphidae, Miridae, Chrysopidae, Hemerobiidae). Twelve species of cucurbit aphids, recorded in 16 Indian states and union territories, were fed by a total of 74 predator species from different taxa. The families Coccinellidae (43 species) and Syrphidae (12 species) had the greatest number of predators. Most of the tri-trophic associations (triplets) were reported in Kerala (35 triplets), Jammu & Kashmir (32 triplets), Uttar Pradesh (31 triplets) and Bihar (30 triplets). A total of 10 species of parasitoids were observed parasitising these aphids infesting in 10 states/union territories of India. Aphis gossypii Glover was reported to be parasitised by 6 species of the parasitoids in 6 states/union territories. Most of the tri-trophic associations were reported from Bihar (28 triplets) followed by Uttar Pradesh (15 triplets) and Karnataka (3 triplets). A thorough and comprehensive survey plan is required to document these parasitoids in unexplored regions as such checklist provides an invaluable reference for taxonomists, researchers, academicians, conservation managers, and policymakers to their proper use in natural/biological control programmes against these aphid pests.