Shelley Ghosh

Sexuales of Aphids (Insecta: Homoptera: Aphididae) in India: Identification Keys, Illustrative Descriptions and Host-plant Relations Shelley Ghosh

Aphids are most important group of phytophagous insects having several biological peculiarities such as prolific breeding, polyphagism, advanced degree of polymorphism, telescopic reproduction, host alternation and high potential for rapid evolutionary changes because of parthenogenesis and polyvoltinism. Some aphids are anholocyclic (parthenogenetic), while others living in colder climate are holocyclic (sexual generation alternates with parthenogenetic ones). About 20% of the described species from India are parthenogenetic virginoparous for most of the year but capable of sexual reproduction with production of eggs. The present contribution is a first consolidated account of aphid sexuales so far known from India. It incorporates detail illustrative account, morphological descriptions and morphometry of aphid sexuales with necessary keys for identification. Light has also been thrown on the holocycly of aphids occurring in Indian scenario. The book, thus, fulfils the maximum lacunae found in the earlier works on the sexual morphs of India. It is believed that the contribution, being first of its kind in India will prove a useful addition to the libraries and to the large section