YASSIN, E., SHOLLA, S., MAHMOUD, M. (2009). MITES (ACARI) OF SYCAMORE TREES IN EGYPT. Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Research, 87(1), 125-135. doi: 10.21608/ejar.2009.193098
ESAM M. A. YASSIN; SALWA M. E. SHOLLA; MESBAH A. MAHMOUD. "MITES (ACARI) OF SYCAMORE TREES IN EGYPT". Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Research, 87, 1, 2009, 125-135. doi: 10.21608/ejar.2009.193098
YASSIN, E., SHOLLA, S., MAHMOUD, M. (2009). 'MITES (ACARI) OF SYCAMORE TREES IN EGYPT', Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Research, 87(1), pp. 125-135. doi: 10.21608/ejar.2009.193098
YASSIN, E., SHOLLA, S., MAHMOUD, M. MITES (ACARI) OF SYCAMORE TREES IN EGYPT. Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Research, 2009; 87(1): 125-135. doi: 10.21608/ejar.2009.193098
Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
Abstract
This study determined the main mite species on sycamore trees, Ficus sycamorus L. from March 2006 to February 2008 and evaluated the possible relation between them. It was conducted in a plantation of 30 year old trees, about 15-20 m high, surrounded with crops as clover, cotton, bean and corn in the two seasons. Samples were taken monthly and consisted of twenty leaves, ten petioles and five terminal sections of twigs (10 cm) from 20 sycamore trees. All mites were separated and mounted for identification to family, genera and species. A total of 29 mite species for 24 genera in 14 families were found. Tydeidae was the family with the highest number of species (6), followed by Phytoseiidae (4 species). The highest abundnace levels of the mite pests recorded in case of family Tetranychidae (three species) followed by Tenuipalpidae (two species). The most abundant predators were Typhlodrompis swiriskii (Athias-Henriot.), Euseius scutalis (A. – H.) (Family: Phytoseiidae) and Pronematus ubiquitus McGrego (Family : Tydeidae) in the infested sycamore leaves. These predators could not prevent the increase of sycamore mite pests, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) (Family : Tarsonemidae), Eriophyes ficus Cotte (Family : Eriophyidae). However, their presence might have prevented an earlier increase and even higher levels of those mites.