07 Ara 2024 Cumartesi
Arthropod predators of the bean aphid, Aphis (Aphis) craccivora Koch, 1854 (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and their distribution in India
Abstract : In this article, arthropod predators of Aphis (Aphis) craccivora Koch, 1854 (bean aphid, cowpea aphid etc.) are catalogued along with the host plants of the prey distributed in different states and union territories of India. Predatory arthropods of cowpea aphid, Aphis (Aphis) craccivora Koch mostly belong to four orders of class Insecta: Coleoptera (families Carabidae, Coccinellidae, Staphylinidae), Diptera (families Chamaemyiidae, Cecidomyiidae, Syrphidae), Hemiptera (family Anthocoridae and Reduviidae), and Neuroptera (families Chrysopidae, Hemerobiidae); and one order of class Arachnida, the Araneae (spiders) (several families). Among the Coleoptera, the Coccinellidae (ladybird beetles) is the largest family having 73 species feeding on Aphis (Aphis) craccivora Koch infesting 61 species of host plants distributed in 24 states and 3 union territories of India. A maximum 40 species of these ladybird beetles prey on the aphids on lablab bean (Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet) followed by cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. (35 species), and faba bean, Vicia faba L. (30 species). Only 3 species of ground beetles (Carabidae) and a single species of Staphylinidae were reported predator of this aphid. Among the Diptera, the hover flies (Syrphidae) are the most common predators having 23 species feeding on Aphis (Aphis) craccivora Koch infesting 26 species of host plants distributed in 16 states and one union territory of India. Only a single species of anthocorid bug (Hemiptera) is reported as a predator of cowpea aphid. Among the Neuroptera, only two families, Chrysopidae (4 species) and Hemerobiidae (3 species) are recorded to prey on Aphis (Aphis) cracivora Koch in India. Among the Araneae, 24 species of spiders were reported belonging to 9 families that prey on Aphis (Aphis) craccivora Koch in 7 states of India. Indeed, very limited attempts have been made to record these aphidophagous arthropods in India and most of the regions are still unexplored and need an intensive survey plan to record them in that areas.