New data on alien aphid species from Pakistan (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Abstract

Pakistan’s predominantly exotic aphid fauna of over 300 species is chronologically based on sporadic patchy researches. Present study, conducted in the aphidologically uncharted Poonch division of Azad Kashmir during 2017–2018, yielded 12 new alien species. Of these, Aphis (Aphis) sambuci; Hyperomyzus pallidus; Neomyzus circumflexus; Pleotrichophorus chrysanthemi; Uroleucon ambrosiae, and Uroleucon compositae are invasive species, while Aphis (Aphis) asclepiadis; Aphis (Toxoptera) citricidus; Macrosiphoniella (Asterobium) victoriae; Macrosiphum (Macrosiphum) gei; Nasonovia (Nasonovia) ribisnigri, and Sitobion (Sitobion) africanum are non-invasive alien species. Among these, Aphis sambuci, Pleotrichophorus chrysanthemi, Aphis asclepiadis, Macrosiphoniella victoriae and Neomyzus circumflexus are new records for Pakistan. Systematics, diagnosis, host plants, study area and general distribution of the encountered alien aphid species are presented herewith. The present study also scrutinizes invasive-species/biogeographic status of nine lately documented new aphid species in the country. Out of 21 species in 18 genera, pooled under latter two parameters, 14 invasive species in 10 genera were found invasive. Palearctic elements with a total of 14 species in 11 genera dominated the data while Afrotropical, cryptogenic, Nearctic, and Oriental regions had two species in as such genera each.