APHID SPECIES (HEMIPTERA: APHIDIDAE) INFESTING MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS IN THE POONCH DIVISION OF AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR, PAKISTAN

This study conducted during 2015-2016 presents first systematic account of the aphids infesting therapeutic herbs used to cure human and veterinary ailments in the Poonch Division of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. In total 20 aphid species, representing 12 genera, were found infesting 35 medicinal and aromatic plant species under 31 genera encompassing 19 families. Aphis gossypii with 17 host plant species was the most polyphagous species followed by Myzus persicae and Aphis fabae that infested 15 and 12 host plant species respectively. Twenty-two host plant species had multiple aphid species infestation. Sonchus asper was infested by eight aphid species and was followed by Tagetes minuta, Galinosoga perviflora and Chenopodium album that were infested by 7, 6 and 5 aphid species respectively. Asteraceae with 11 host plant species under 10 genera, carrying 13 aphid species under 8 genera was the most aphidprone plant family. A preliminary systematic checklist of studied aphids and list of host plant species are provided.