SPECIES COMPOSITION OF APHIDOPHAGOUS COCCINELLIDAE(COLEOPTERA) IN FRUIT ORCHARDS OF EASTERN FERGANA

Abstract

This study assessed the species composition, occurrence patterns, and
biological control relevance of aphidophagous ladybird beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in fruit orchard agrobiocenoses of Eastern Fergana, Uzbekistan. Field surveys were conducted during 2022–2025 across 30 sampling sites using transect observations, specimen collection, and laboratory identification. In total, 19 aphidassociated coccinellid species belonging to nine genera were recorded. Occurrencebased analysis showed that Coccinella septempunctata, Hippodamia variegata,
Chilocorus bipustulatus, Propylea quatuordecimpunctata, and Scymnus subvillosus were the most frequent species, indicating their stable presence in orchard agroecosystems. Species with medium and low occurrence levels contributed to the functional diversity of the aphidophagous complex and may support pest suppression under varying ecological conditions. The results demonstrate that fruit orchards of
Eastern Fergana host a taxonomically diverse assemblage of aphid-feeding
Coccinellidae with considerable potential for natural regulation of aphid populations. These findings provide a faunistic and ecological basis for integrating native coccinellid predators into sustainable aphid management and biological control strategies in regional fruit production systems.