21 Kas 2024 Perşembe
Aphid species (Hemiptera: Aphididae) infesting medicinal plants in Kargil, Trans-Himalaya Ladakh
Abstract : Ladakh is home to therapeutic herbs, used to treat human and animal illnesses. This study, conducted from 2020 to 2022, provides the first systematic account of the aphids infesting these plants. A total of 37 species of medicinal plants belonging to 35 genera and 19 families, infested by 14 aphid species representing 10 genera, were reported. The most polyphagous species was Aphis gossypii which attacked 12 different host plant species. It was followed by Aphis fabae and, Myzus persicae which infested 8 host plant species, respectively. Some plant species are infested by multiple aphid species. Tagetes erecta, Eleusine coracana, Raphanus sativa, and Solanum nigrum were attacked by 3 different aphid species respectively. The most aphid-prone plant family was Asteraceae and Poaceae which has 10 host plant species in 10 genera infested by 7 aphid species under 4 genera. A preliminary systematic list of the observed aphid species is provided, along with a list of the host plant species.