Aphids (Insecta) damaging medicinal and aromatic plants of Jammu and Kashmir State (India): An updated checklist and biodiversity
R.C. Bhagat*
Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir Hazratbal, Srinagar, Kashmir (J&K), 190006 (India) E-mail: bhagatrc@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
A total of 63 aphid species, belonging to 29 genera of family Aphididae, stretched over three subfamilies Aphidinae, Eriosomatinae and Lachninae, have been found to damage more than 92 species, under 61 genera of medicinal and aromatic plants, distributed over 31 plant families, in diverse areas of Jammu and Kashmir region. The dominant genus of aphid was Aphis, having 10 species, infesting 34 plant species. Rosa spp., found to be damaged by highest number of aphid species as 10, followed by Artemisia, Chrysanthemum and Berberis damaged by 6, 6 and 5 aphid species respectively. The highly polyphagous aphid species found to be Myzus persicae, damaging 9 host-plant species, followed by Aphis craccivora and Aphis gossypii, with 7 host-plant species each. The family Asteraceae, having 21 species, dominated in having highest number of aphid infestations species as 20. An updated checklist of aphids and Host-plant-Aphid species catalogue, have also been incorporated.