Report on Hemipteran Pest Diversity on Apple Plantations ( Malus domestica Borkh.) in Jammu and Kashmir State of India

Abstract

Apples are grown over several years in the same habitat which serves as a permanent abode for the multiplication of various pests. About a thousand insect pests have been recorded from temperate fruit plants all over the world (Chadha & Awasthi, 2005). Of them, 600 pests are found on apples alone. Hemiptera included Eriosoma lanigerum Hausmann (most serious pest), Aphis pomi De Geer and Quadraspidiotus perniciosus Comstock, as abundant amongst all whereas others including Reduvius delicatula Distant, Putala rostrata Melichar, Nezara viridula (Linnaeus), Halyomorpha halys Stal, Halys dentatus Fabricius, Empoasca sp. Borysthers sp, Oxyrachis rufescens Walker and Borysthers sp. are less abundant.. Amongst the recorded Hemipterans, three new records are made by the investigator in Jammu province viz. Reduvius delicatula, Putala rostrata Melichar and Borysthers belonging to families Reduvidae, Dictyopharidae and Fulgoridae respectively. There are chances that a minor pest of today may become major tomorrow, it is therefore necessary to study them as well.