Faunistic Survey and Checklist of Aphididae (Hemiptera) on Cereal Crops and Their Associated Parasitoid Fauna

Abstract

A faunistic survey was conducted to document the diversity of Aphididae (Hemiptera) associated with major cereal crops and their associated parasitoid complex in agroecosystems, with emphasis on species composition, host associations, and natural enemy interactions. Field sampling across cereal-growing habitats revealed multiple aphid species colonizing wheat, barley, maize, and oat crops, with varying infestation intensities depending on crop stage and environmental conditions. Dominant aphid taxa included Sitobion avenae, Rhopalosiphum padi, and Schizaphis graminum, which exhibited distinct seasonal abundance patterns influenced by temperature and crop phenology. Concurrent surveys of parasitoid fauna recovered several hymenopteran parasitoids, predominantly from the families Braconidae and Aphidiidae, indicating a diverse natural enemy assemblage regulating aphid populations. Parasitism rates varied spatially and temporally, with higher incidence recorded during peak aphid population build-up in spring and early summer. The interaction between aphids and parasitoids demonstrated a strong density-dependent relationship, suggesting effective natural regulation under favorable ecological conditions. Morphological identification supported by molecular barcoding (COI gene sequencing) confirmed species-level resolution for both aphids and parasitoids, improving accuracy in faunistic documentation. The study highlights the importance of conserving parasitoid diversity to enhance biological control services in cereal-based agroecosystems. Environmental factors such as crop diversity, pesticide usage, and habitat heterogeneity were observed to influence community structure and parasitism efficiency.