Systematics, Host Plants and Distribution of Aphids (Hemiptera:Aphididae) Infesting Tree Flora in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan

Taxonomic studies on aphids in general and tree dwelling aphids in particular have received much less attention in Pakistan with to-date no work reported from Azad Kashmir-Pakistan, where natural tree flora abounds and silviculture is common. Surveys conducted during 2015-2016 in the Poonch Division of Azad Kashmir-Pakistan, yielded 24 aphid species in 14 genera, representing subfamilies, Aphidinae, Lachninae, Calaphidinae, Hormaphidinae and Chaitophorinae, infesting 28 tree species in 22 genera, 17 families and 12 orders. Genera Aphis, Cinara and Myzus had 7, 3 and 2 species, respectively. Hoplochaitophorus quercicola (Monell, 1879) and Pterocomma beulahense (Cockerell, 1904) are new records for Pakistan. Astegopteryx bambusae (Buckton, 1893) is also represented as new record for the country. Data also have 3 second-finding, 6 third-finding, 11 new host plants and 71 new locality records in Pakistan. Aphis gossypii and Aphis craccivora were found infesting 8 tree species in 8 genera and 6 in 6 genera respectively. Rosaceae with 5 species in 4 genera carrying 9 aphid species in 5 genera was the most aphid-prone family. Systematics, host range, distribution of the related aphids and catalogue of host plant-tree species in the studied area from Pakistan are given herewith.