author(s)
Imtiaz Ali Khan, Saad Jan, Rasheed Akbar, Sajjad Hussain, Muhammad Saeed, Abid Farid, Ijaz Ali, Mukhtar Alam, Walija Fayaz, Bismillah Shah, Ruidar Ali Shah, Mir Manzar Ud Din

abstract
Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann) (Homoptera: Pemphigidae) causes heavy losses to apple yield in Skardu-Baltistan. Synthetic insecticides have been routinely used for the control of E. lanigerum in apple orchards. The efficacy of Aphelinus mali and Malathion against E. lanigerum was evaluated in apple orchards at three locations of Skardu-Baltistan during 2009. The results showed that E. lanigerum density was significantly lower in malathion treatment in apple orchards at Skurdu, Ashopee Shigar and Wazir Inayat Orchard at Skardu-Baltistan, 24h (58.66 aphids/leaf, 72.00 aphids/leaf, 75.00 aphids/leaf), 15 days (43.00 aphids/leaf, 48.67 aphids/leaf, 49.00 aphids/leaf) and 30 days (31.33 aphids/leaf, 32.00 aphids/leaf, 28.67 aphids/leaf), respectively after treatment. Overall mean density of the pest was significantly lower in malathion treatment (44.33 aphids/leaf, 51.00 aphids/leaf, 51.00 aphids/leaf), and higher in control (95.00 aphids/leaf, 126.67 aphids/leaf, 129.67 aphids/leaf) in apple orchards at Skardu, Ashopee Shigar and Wazir Inayat Orchard at Skardu-Baltistan, respectively.