ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGE AND SEASONAL ABUNDANCE OF Paracopium cingalensis (LACE BUG) (WAL.) ON Juglans regia (WALNUT) (LIN.) IN CENTRAL KASHMIR, INDIA

Juglans regia (Walnut) is an important cash crop of Kashmir is attacked by various insect pests and diseases, leading considerable damage to different parts of walnut trees. The type of damage caused by lace bug, Paracopium cingalensis (Heteroptera: Tingidae) on walnuts is reported for the first time from Central Kashmir, India. Adults and Nymphs feed on the lower surface of leaves while depositing brownish excrement on them. They feed on liquid sap and were active from April to October 2014-2015. They gregariously feed on leaves which lead to the formation of galls and bumps. New leaflets were generally preferred with more number of individuals feeding on them. Results revealed that the mean abundance values of P. cingalensis were maximum in district Srinagar followed by district Ganderbal and district Budgam, respectively. The overall difference in three districts was found statistically insignificant. The present study serves in addition to the existing knowledge of walnut pests for its utilisation in holistic management practices.