LADYBIRD BEETLES OF SUB-FAMILY CHILOCORINAE (COCCINELLIDAE: COLEOPTERA) OF AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Ladybird beetles of family chilocorinae are medium sized beetles which are mainly predator on scale insects. in present study, a survey was conducted to explore the chilocorine ladybird beetles from azad jammu and kashmir during 2009-2011. a total of 9 species in 5 genera were recorded from the study area which include brumoides suturalis, chilocorus infernalis, chilocorus melas, chilocorus nigrita, chilocorus rubidus, exochomus flavipes, exochomus nigripennis, pricibrumus uropygialis, platynaspidius saundersi. among these species chilocorus melas, chilocorus rubidus, exochomus nigripennis are new to the area. members of the genus chilocorus were closely resembled to each other. they were separated on the basis of diagnostic characters of adult female and male genitalia.