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Arthropods, 2026, 15(2): 90-135
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Article

The updated tri-trophic associations of the aphidophagous arthropods in West Bengal, India

Rajendra Singh1, Anuradha Shukla2
1Department of Zoology, Deen Dayal Upadhaya Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
2Department of Zoology, Jhun Jhun Wala P. G. College, Faizabad, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India

Received 21 January 2026;Accepted 28 February 2026;Published online 5 March 2026;Published 1 June 2026
IAEES

Abstract
A comprehensive analysis of tri-trophic interactions among aphidophagous predators, their aphid prey, and associated host plants in West Bengal revealed a rich and diverse predator community distributed across multiple ecological guilds. A total of 125 predator species belonging to Arachnida (Araneae) and Insecta (Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Neuroptera) were recorded, forming 612 distinct predator-aphid-plant associations involving 57 aphid species on 98 host plants. The most dominant groups were Coccinellidae (60 species) and Syrphidae (22 species), which together accounted for the majority of tri-trophic linkages. Other significant predator families included Araneidae, Chrysopidae, Hemerobiidae, Anthocoridae, and Chamaemyiidae, representing key natural enemies contributing to aphid suppression in both agricultural and natural ecosystems. Coccinellids such as Coccinella septempunctata, Cheilomenes sexmaculata, and Micraspis discolor emerged as the most polyphagous predators, preying on multiple aphid species across diverse crops, including Solanum melongena, Brassica juncea, Triticum aestivum, and Camellia sinensis. Syrphid flies like Betasyrphus isaaci, Episyrphus balteatus, Sphaerophoria scripta, and Ischiodon scutellaris also displayed wide prey ranges, highlighting their potential as biocontrol agents. Other guilds, including spiders, lacewings, and minute pirate bugs, exhibited complementary predatory roles, with spiders showing activity across both cultivated and natural habitats. The findings highlight the ecological complexity and functional diversity of aphidophagous assemblages in West Bengal. This dataset provides a critical baseline for biodiversity monitoring, ecological modeling, and the development of region-specific Integrated Pest Management strategies aimed at enhancing sustainable and environmentally sound pest regulation in the state.

Keywords tri-trophic interactions;aphidophagous arthropods;host plants, aphids;Coccinellidae;Chrysopida;Syrphidae;biodiversity conservation.


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