Indian J. Applied & Pure Bio. Vol. 27(1), 1-10 (2012). 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: [email protected] 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. Aphids are small and soft-bodied medicinal and aromatic plants in vast areas insects commonly known as plant-lice or and localities of J&K State, of great zoogeogra- greenflies belonging to order Hemiptera, sub- phical significance in north-west-Himalaya. order stenorrhyncha, super-family Aphididea and family aphididae. These are one of the Majority of aphid species existing in dominant groups of insect in Jammu and this region are more or less monophagous but Kashmir, showing rich biodiversity, occurring in many species are polyphagous. The life-cycle abundance and damaging diverse types of of the aphids is not only varied but also complex, *Address for correspondence: P.O. Box No.1250, G.P.O Residency Road, Srinagar, Kashmir (J & K), 190001, India. (2) having alteration of parthenogenetic and sexual and aromatic plants, belonging to 61 genera, generation, with wingless form (apterous) and distributed over 31 plant families. For the winged (alate). Because of their tremendous purpose of updation of database pertaining to power of reproduction, aphids colonise on aphid-fauna of medicinal and aromatic plants, leaves, foliage, shoots and branches of medicinal/ Eastop & Hille Ris Lambers6, Remaudiere & aromatic plants in this region. As sap-feeders, Remaudiere10 and Holman7, have been dense colonies of aphids cause damage to these followed. valuable plants, in the form of wilting, leaf- curling and also stunting, besides as vectors of viral diseases. Till-to-date, a total of 63 aphid species, under 29 genera is known to occur in Jammu Mathur and Anand8, were the ealiest and Kashmir region, damaging 92 species of workers to study damage caused by aphid pest, medicinal and aromatic plants, the dominant Myzus persicae in J&K to medicinal plant sub-family Aphidinae of family Aphididae of (Hyoscyamus niger). Thereafter, Verma13,14 the aphids, incorporated as many as 60 speices, reported the occurrence of aphids damaging belonging to 27 genera, whereas sub-family medicinal plants, viz. Berberis spp., Mentha Eriosomatinae and Lachninae, having 1 species spp. and Polygonum hydropiper. Mathur and (Igen.) and 2 species(lgen.) respectively.The 9 Srivastava , for the first time gave a detailed two tribes of sub-family Aphidinae as account of various insects damaging medicinal Aphidini and Macrosiphini, included 13 species and aromatic plants,including aphids (18 spp.) under 4 genera and 47 species (23 genera) of J&K State. In eighties, through the papers respectively (Tables-1 & 2). of Rishi & Bhagat11, Srivastava12, Bhagat1-4 more than 16 species of aphids, damaging more The dominant genus of aphid, has than 17 species of medicinal and aromatic plants of Jammu region, were known. Later, been found to be Aphis, having 10 species, Bhat and Bali5, recorded six species of aphids, followed by Uroleucon, with 7 species, Macro- damaging 6 medicinal plants of Udhampur siphoniella 5 spp., Chaetosiphon 4 spp., in Jammu region. Liosomaphis and Macrosiphum, 3 spp. each. Other aphid genera, viz. Brevicoryne, Capito- In the present communication, an phorous, Cavariella, Myzaphis, Myzus, updated consolidated information is provided Nasonovia, Ovatus and Protrama, having 2 on the systematic position, nomenclatural spp. each. The rest of the 15 genera, having, changes, host-plant diversity and aphid 1 species each genus (see table-1). species richness of 63 aphids, belonging to 29 genera of family Aphididae, under three The dominant aphid-infesting medicinal/ subfamilies: Aphidinae, Eriosomatinae and aromatic plants, with more than one associated Lachninae, damaging 92 species of medicial aphid species, are given as under:- (3) Plant genera Total no. and A. gossypii, each damaging 6 different (no.of species) (family) of aphid aromatic and medicial plants, and so on and so species / forth (see table below). Rest of the aphid genera species i.e., 44, have been found to be attacking Rosa (8) (Rosaceae) 10 (4) single aromatic/medicinal plant species, as Artemisia (5) (Asteraceae) 06 (2) monophagous species. The polyphagous Berberis (4) (Berberidaceae) 05 (2) aphid species and their host species richness are Chrysanthemum (4) (Asteraceae) 06 (3) given as under:- Mentha (3) (Lamiaceae) 03 (2) Sonchus (3) (Asteraceae) 04 (2) Number Pergularia (2) (Asclepiadaceae) 02 (2) of host - Rumex (2) (Polygonaceae) 03 (2) Aphid species plant Solanum (2) (Solanaceae) 03 (2) species affected The above table shows the highest Myzus persicae 9 number of aphid species i.e., 10, covering 4 Aphis nerii 7 different genera, damaging 8 species of genus Aphis sp. 7 Rosa, both cultivated as well as wild, in various Aphis craccivora 6 regions of J&K. The genus Artemisia, having 5 Aphis gossypii 6 species was found infested with 6 aphid species, Aphis fabae solanella 4 with high population densities in wide areas and localities of J&K State. Next dominant aphid- Macrosiphum sp. 4 infested medicinal plants, have been encountered Macrosiphoniella oblonga 4 in case of genus Chrysanthemum and Berberis, Uroleucon sp. 4 covering 4 species each, respectively infested Lisomaphis himalayensis 3 with 6 and 5 aphid species. 3 species each of Macrosiphum rosae 3 Mentha and Sonchus, were found to be damaged Cavariella biswasi 2 by 3 and 4 aphid species respectively. The Chaetosiphon tetrarhodum 2 genera-Pergularia, Rumex and Solanum, Hyadaphis coriandri 2 having 2 spp. each, showed infestations of 2, 3 Hyalopterus pruni 2 and 3 aphid species respectively. Remaining 52 Liosomaphis atra 2 genera were found to be damaged by one species of aphid each. (Tables-1&2). Macrosiphoniella sp. 2 Ovatus crataegarius 2 The host-plant species richnees of Rhopalosiphum nympheae 2 polyphagous aphid species, has been found in case of aphid pest, viz. Myzus persicae, as The various families of medicinal / highly polyphagous aphid, having as many as 9 medicinal/aromatic plant species as hosts, aromatic plants, covering more than one plant followed by Aphis nerii and Aphis sp., each with species, in order of dominance, with total number 7 hosts. Other major aphid pests-Aphis craccivora of associated aphid species, are given below:- (4) Host plant family No. of Total No. The medicinal/aromatic plant species host- of asso- affected by more than one (multiple) aphid plant ciated species, are enumerated as under:- species aphid species No.of aphid Asteraceae 21 20 Host plant species species damaging Rosaceae 09 11 host Lamiaceae 07 07 Rosa macrophylla 04 Solanaceae 06 03 Rosa webbiana 04 Asclepiadaceae 05 02 Artemisia absinthium 03 Apiaceae 04 05 Berberis lycium 03 Brassicaceae 04 04 Chrysanthemun sp. 03 Berberidaceae 04 05 Rumex nepalensis 03 Fabaceae 04 03 Solannum nigrum 03 Polygonaceae 03 04 Artemisia princeps 02 Apocynaceae 02 02 Artemisia sp. 02 Dioscoreaceae 02 03 Chrysanthemum morifolium 02 Nympheaceae 02 02 Foeniculum vulgare 02 Poaceae 02 02 Mentha longifolium 02 Total 14 families 75 species Rosa indica 02 Salvia moorcroftiana 02 The highest number of aphid species i.e. 20, infesting 21 species of medicinal/ aromatic Solannm miniatum 02 plants, have been found to be belonging to the Sonchus asper 02 family Asteraceae, followed by Rosaceae, having Sonchus oleraceous 02 9 species, damaged by 11 aphid species, so on and so forth, given in the above table. For rest Rest of the plant species i.e, 75 are of the plant families i.e. 17, incorporating 1 found to be infested with one aphid species species each of plant, found to be attacked each. by one species each of aphid. (5) Table-1. Systematic checklist of Aphids (1) Hyalopterus: (Aphididae) damaging medicinal and aromatic Hyalopterus pruni (Geoffroy): Hosts- plants of Jammu and Kashmir regions Berberis pseudoumbellatus, Phragmites (India) australis(= communis) Subfamily 1 Aphidinae (2) Rhopaloisphum: Tribe 1. Aphidini Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae (Linnaeus): Subtribel Aphidina Hosts- Nymphaea alba, N. candida, Aphid and Host-plant species Tribe 2. Macrosphini (1) Aphis: (1) Aulacorthum : A. (A.) affinis del Guercio: Hosts- Aulacorthum sp.: Host- Dioscorea deltoidea Epilobium hirsutum, Mentha aquatica, (2) Brachycaudus M. longifolia (Syn.=M. sylvestris). A. (A.) Brachycaudus (B.) helichrysi (Kaltenbach): craccivora Koch : Hosts-Cissampelos pariera, Host- Notonia grandiflora Dolichos lablab,