Full Length Research Paper
Abstract
Poophilus costalis Walker, has been encountered in the biodiversity hotspot region of Kashmir Himalaya. This is the first report of family Aphrophoridae from the region. Nine species of plants under nine genera and seven families were recorded as host plants of the insect, including highly valued cash crop Lavendula angustifolia with an infestation level of 30 percent. Sixty five plant species were screened for infestation of the insect, under twenty families; comprising of 39 (60%) C3, 24 (37%) C4 and 2 (3%) CAM plants. In none of the cases the insect was associated with C4 plants. Data interpretation leaves some scope for revisiting Thompson’s theory of predilection of spittle bugs for C4 plants.
Key words: Poophilus costalis, Lavendula angustifolia, aphrophoridae, spittle bugs, C4plants.
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