Predaceous coccinellids in India:: Predator-prey catalogue (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

A predator-prey catalogue of the Indian predaceous Coccinellidae is presented, which features an updated record of the coccinellid fauna along with their prey range, i.e., aphids, scale insects, mealy bugs, phytophagous mites, whiteflies, nymphs of pentatomid bugs, etc. The catalogue provides the prey record of 261 known predaceous coccinellids of India belonging to 57 genera. Prey record of certain predaceous species is not available. The catalogue lends support to the exploitation of the specific coccinellid predator for the biocontrol of its specific prey. It also reveals the occurrence of many coccinellids at a single prey site, showing the potential of many coccinellids against a single prey. Taxonomic relationship of the subfamilies (including tribes) of Coccinellidae with their prey range is also presented.