First record of <Hycleus marcipoli> Pan & Bologna, 2014 (Coleoptera: Meloidae) as a pest of Common Beans in Kashmir Himalaya, India

Blister beetles are recognized as pests of agricultural crops due to their phytophagous habits and they produce cantharidin, a toxic compound that causes significant crop damage and poses health hazards. This study reports the first occurrence of Hycleus marcipoli (Coleoptera: Meloidae), an important member of the blister beetles feeding on Common Bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L. in the Kashmir Himalaya (India). The species was originally described in 2014 from China, Laos, and Thailand. This report represents a significant extension of its geographical range, emphasizing the need for further entomological surveys and taxonomic studies in the region. The species significantly impairs the reproductive potential of P. vulgaris resulting in reduced pod formation and overall yield decline. The present study provides a comprehensive taxonomic description of the species along with a detailed observation of the nature and extent of crop damage to P. vulgaris.