Aphid Pests (Insecta) Damaging Forest- Trees in Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh Himalayas: an Updated Annotated Checklist and Biodiversity

The present communication deals with aphid pests, damaging forest trees in diverse areas and localities in Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh region of north-west Himalaya. Updated information pertaining to systematic checklist, host-range and species richness of 51 aphid species, under 26 genera, belonging to 10 different sub-families of family Aphididae, damaging 34 forest-tree species, distributed over 17 genera of 10 families, have been provided. Salixs and poplars (Salicaceae), are found infested with highest number of aphid species as 23. The dominant aphid species attacking forest trees in different areas pertained to the sub-family Erisomatinae as 15 and aphid genera viz. Chaitophorus and Pemphigus incorporated highest number of species as 6 each. A catalogue on host-tree (forest) complex of aphids of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh region, has been presented.