Vol. 78 2026

ARTICLES

Community Structure of Ladybirds Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Across Contrasting Habitat Types in North-Central Algeria: The Role of Temporal Variation and Aphid Availability

Assia Boukendakdji1, Mehdi Boukheroufa2, Feriel Sakraoui2,*, Romain Nattier3 &
Rached Hadiby2

More info

1Plant biology and environment research laboratory. Badji Mokhtar Annaba University. Algeria; assia.boukendakdji@gmail.com
2,*Ecology of marine and coastal environments research laboratory. Faculty of Sciences. Badji Mokhtar Annaba University. Algeria; mahdi.boukhroufa@univ-annaba.dz, feriel.sakraoui@univ-annaba.dz, rached.hadiby@univ-annaba.dz
3Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, CNRS, SU, EPHE-PSL, UA, Paris, France; nattier@mnhn.fr

https://doi.org/10.71424/azb78.4.003198

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Abstract

This study examines ladybird (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) communities across four contrasting habitats in North-Central Algeria (natural habitat, fruit-crop, cereal-crop, urban park), analysing how habitat, prey and seasonality shape their structure. From January to October 2025, 203 sampling events recorded 3,580 adults (23 species). Diversity was quantified using Hill numbers and iNEXT curves; community drivers and composition were analysed via GLMs and PERMANOVA. The assemblage was dominated by Hippodamia variegata (33.8%), Chilocorus bipustulatus (17.9%), Novius cardinalis (11.6%), and Oenopia doublieri (10.9%). The natural habitat showed the highest richness (20 species), agrosystems the greatest abundances (up to 86.8 ± 76.2 individuals/survey), and the urban park was species-poor (4 species, representing 2.2% of all collected individuals). Activity peaked in May-June (46.7%) and was concentrated from March to August (88%). For 10 strictly aphidophagous species (54.7% of individuals), aphid presence significantly increased abundance (IRR = 1.86; 95% CI: 1.17-2.97; p = 0.009), whereas abiotic variables had no effect. PERMANOVA revealed a significant effect of habitat type on community composition (pseudo-F₃,₈₁ = 2.889; p < 0.001; R² = 0.243), with the urban community differing markedly in composition from the other three habitats. These results demonstrate how habitat type, prey availability and seasonality govern ladybird community dynamics in North-Central Algeria.

Key words

Aphidophagous species; Habitat type; Mediterranean region; Seasonal phenology; Species assemblages; Urban ecology

How to Cite
Boukendakdji A., Boukheroufa M., Sakraoui F., Nattier R. & Hadiby R.. 2026. Community Structure of Ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Across Contrasting Habitat Types in North-Central Algeria: The Role of Temporal Variation and Aphid Availability. Acta zoologica bulgarica 78.

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