UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

This study documents the tri-trophic diversity of aphids, their parasitoids, and host plants in Manipur, where 50 aphidiine species (Braconidae) parasitise 44 aphid species on 82 host plants, forming 230 associations. This represents nearly one-third of the 157 aphidiine species recorded from India, underscoring significant contribution of Manipur to national parasitoid diversity. Marked interspecific variation in host breadth was observed. Several parasitoids, including Aphidius avenae, Aphidius colemani, Aphidius hortensis, Aphidius matricariae, Aphidius urticae, Binodoxys acalephae, Diaeretiella rapae, Ephedrus plagiator, and Lipolexis oregmae, exhibited broad host ranges, parasitising 5–11 aphid species across multiple host plants and contributing substantially to overall tri-trophic diversity. Aphidius matricariae emerged as the most polyphagous species, whereas Diaeretiella rapae showed strong associations with brassica-infesting aphids. Among aphids, Aphis gossypii supported the highest parasitoid richness (24 species) and formed 67 tri-trophic associations, followed by Myzus persicae with 14 parasitoid species and 40 associations. Host plants differed markedly in supporting aphid–parasitoid networks, with Brassica oleracea var. capitata and Solanum melongena serving as key tri-trophic hubs, while most plants sustained simpler associations. The complex network is driven largely by a few polyphagous parasitoids regulating aphids, alongside many host-specific species enhancing stability. The documented diversity highlights the ecological and applied importance of aphidiine parasitoids in integrated pest management and sustainable agroecosystem functioning in Manipur.