author(s)
Bashir Ahmad Rather, Mehraj-ud-din Sofi, FA Shah Khan, Shahnawaz A Dar and Yogesh Kumar

abstract
The occurrence of poplar leaf miner Phyllonorycter populifoliella (Treitesche) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) infestation, responsible for the blotch leaf mines of poplars, was studied in different agroforestry systems in the Leh region. The test plots studied in different blocks in the existing agroforestry systems contained mainly Populus nigra L. species of poplars. The data revealed that the leaf miner infestation was observed in both the species of poplars but the infestation was observed higher in P. nigra L. as compared to P. deltoids L. The mean number of mines/leaf in case of P. nigra L. and P. deltoids L. was recorded in the range of 2 to 7/leaf and 1 to 3/leaf, respectively. The symptoms of damage due to the pest have been observed to diminish the aesthetic look of poplars in the region. The mean per cent infestation in different blocks of the district was observed in the range of 56.30 to 89.92%. Hence, it is concluded that the pest may be categorised as one of the major insect pests of poplars in Leh region.