First report of an invasive pest, Sphenoptera lafertie T. (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) on cherry plantation (Rosaceae), from the North-Western Himalayas, Kashmir

Cherries are a typical temperate fruit crop that can be consumed fresh, dried, pickled, canned, or processed. They are a rich source of anthocyanins and antioxidants, improve cognitive functioning and thrive in regions that don't experience extreme heat or cold. Nevertheless, the soft bark and gum-exuding properties make it vulnerable to severe insect pest damage, resulting in significant economic losses to the horticulture industry. The incidence and mortality of plants were observed in the North-Western Himalayan region of India by creating galleries inside the trunks. To identify and assess pest damage, a morphological characterisation was carried out in 2021 and 2022 at the Fruit Experimental Farm, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Kashmir, India. During the investigation, it was confirmed that invasive pest is a trunk borer (Sphenoptera lafertie T.), a member of the family Buprestidae and order Coleoptera. A survey conducted across three orchards in North, Central and Southern Kashmir revealed the highest infestation levels on the cherry variety Bigarreau Noir Grossa (Mishri), with approximately 63 % of live holes recorded in North and South Kashmir. In Central Kashmir, the variety Guigne Pourpera Prece (Awal Number) exhibited a 67.8 % infestation at the SKUAST-K Farm.