Ladybugs and aphids interaction on biological control: a bibliometric analysis

Abstract

In recent years, biological insect control has gained prominence for its focus on sustainable agriculture through the reduction of pesticide use and the maximization of ecological benefits. An important interaction in this context involves ladybugs and their primary prey, aphids, across a wide variety of crops. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the scientific progress of biological control of aphids by ladybugs through bibliometric analysis. To this end, a search was conducted in the Web of Science database, covering the years 2003 to 2023, with connections between data visualized using VOSviewer. As a result of the survey, research in this area has advanced exponentially, though not linearly. The earliest studies in the estimated period were mostly published in the United States and European countries, such as Germany and Belgium, due to growing interest in voracious exotic coccinellid species that easily adapt to different environments; however, in the last 10 years of research, the focus has been on native ladybug species, given the imbalance in local diversity caused by predatory species, the analysis of various ladybugs’ resistance to climate change and insecticides on a global scale, as well as Brazil’s growing significance in participation in these studies.