01 Oca 2026 Perşembe
Tri-trophic associations of aphidophagous hover flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) in different states and union territories of India
Abstract : Hover flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) serve dual ecological functions as pollinators and as natural enemies, with larvae of the subfamily Syrphinae primarily predating upon aphids. Aphids, among the most destructive agricultural pests due to their rapid multiplication, wide host range, and role in virus transmission, are effectively regulated by syrphid predators. This study compiles tri-trophic records of aphidophagous hover flies (Syrphidae: Syrphinae) in India. A total of 49 species belonging to 17 genera are confirmed as aphidophagous, preying on 94 aphid species across 149 host plants, resulting in 1,025 tri-trophic associations from 27 states/union territories (ST/UT). Episyrphus balteatus (De Geer) was the most polyphagous and widespread (58 aphid species on 116 host plants; 178 associations in 21 ST/UT), followed by Ischiodon scutellaris (Fabricius) (50 aphid species on 97 host plants; 157 associations in 20 ST/UT), Eupeodes confrater (Wiedemann) (43 aphid species on 78 host plants; 95 associations in 19 ST/UT), and Betasyrphus serarius (Wiedemann) (35 aphid species on 61 host plants; 78 associations in 17 ST/UT). Key aphid prey included Aphis craccivora Koch, Aphis gossypii Glover, Brevicoryne brassicae (Linnaeus), Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach) and Myzus persicae (Sulzer). The highest number of tri-trophic associations was recorded in Uttar Pradesh, followed by Uttarakhand, Manipur, and West Bengal. Major host plants linked with these interactions were brassica vegetables, mustard, and brinjal, with fewer records from other crops and trees. Furthermore, 12 saprophagous and 2 myrmecophilous hover fly species were incorrectly recorded as aphidophagous, and the presence of Sphaerophoria philantha Meigen in India remains unsubstantiated; these taxa were excluded. By standardising nomenclature with authoritative databases, this checklist rectifies previous taxonomic inconsistencies and provides a robust reference for taxonomy, ecology, biological control, and the conservation of syrphids under increasing anthropogenic stress. Overall, these results confirm that India harbours a highly diverse fauna of aphidophagous hover flies, 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.