MORPHOMETRIC STUDIES OF GREEN APPLE APHID (APHIS POMI DE GEER) (APHIDIDAE: HEMIPTERA)REHANA AKBAR, SAJAD MOHI-UD-DIN, ROOHI JAN, DANISHTA AZIZ AND MOHMMAD ASIF SHEIKHAbstract Aphids are one of the major pests which harm crops worldwide. Among them green apple aphid (Aphis pomi) is one of the most important species of aphids commonly occurring in apple orchards of Kashmir. For controlling these aphids, the morphological identification is one of the important key. Therefore morphometry of Aphis pomi was studied using Scanning Electron Microscope in the division of Entomology. In this study the measurement of different instars of Aphis pomi were undertaken viz, width and length of body, wings and legs. The morphometric analysis showed gradual developmental variations from first instar to adult stage in size, shape, colour and number of characters. The body length and breadth of different nymphal stages of Aphis pomi were (0.72±0.02) x (0.33±0.01), (0.92±0.01) x (0.49±0.02), (1.05±0.03) x (0.64±0.02) and (1.21±0.05) x (0.78±0.03) respectively. The Adult Aphids range in colour from light green to dark green, with an orange-yellow head having body breadth (1.02±0.21) mm and length (1.52±0.07) mm. |