STUDIES ON MITES IN FARM MANURE

Abstract

The present investigation includes field and laboratory studies. The field study was carried out under the prevailing field conditions in two different locations; Abees and Abo-Hommous which representing two Governorates; Alexandria and Behaira, respectively. The experiments were extended all year – round from January through December 2008.

The experiments were conducted to survey certain mite species of farm manure inhabiting three different biotopes, i.e. cattle manure, sheep manure and poultry manure. Manure samples were collected at monthly intervals from each of the selected biotope; cattle, sheep and poultry manures. Furthermore, the influences of some environmental factors on the distribution and abundance of manure mite populations associated with these biotopes at the two locations under study were explored and studied. Also, laboratory studies were conducted to identify mite species and to evaluate the toxic effect of four pesticides to show their side effect on the predacious mite Macrocheles merdarius.

The obtained results can be summarized as follows: 1. Abundance of mites inhabiting the manure:

1.1. Mites inhabiting cattle manure:

1.1.1. In Abees , Alexandria:

The average number of all suborders recorded three peaks of abundant of total mites suborder during March, October and the highest peak in November with averages of 134.7, 116.9 and 316.7, respectively. However, as total mites, the percentages of four suborders were 8.3, 1.3, 3.0 and 87.4% for Gamasida, Actinedida, Oribatida and Acaridida, respectively.

1.1.2. In Abo-Hommous , Behaira:.

The total number of population densities for each suborder, around the year in Abees, (Alexandria) took the same rank of Abo-hummous, (Behaira) during 2008. It could be concluded that Acaridida scored the first rank followed by Gamasida, Oribatida and Actinedida, where the percentages were 69.8, 23.2, 3.7 and 3.2%, consecutively.

1.1.3. Comparison among the population densities of the four mite suborders inhibiting cattle manure The population densities of the four inspected mite suborders inhibiting cattle manure in Abees and Abo-Hummous, were subjected to the analysis of variance test with mean separation at the 5 % level of significance. Computer program "Costat" and Duncan's multiple range tests were used to compare the averages of population densities. Statistical analysis of the data indicated that there were highly significant differences at the level of 5 % probability among the records of months and locations. In addition, data showed the interaction effects between months and different two locations on the population densities of each suborder of mite under consideration during the year of investigation.

1.2. Mites inhabiting sheep manure 1.2.1. Abees, Alexandria:

It could be observed that suborder acaridida had the highest population density between the other three suborders. Actinedida mites came in the second rank followed by gamasid mite and oribatid mite which recorded the least population density.

It is obvious that as total mean numbers of mites in the four suborders all over the year in Abees, were varied from month. The total mean another number of mites population densities in December were the highest followed by June and March which recorded 190, 109.7 and 67 individuals, respectively, while the least total mean number of population density estimated by 0.67 individual was recorded in April 2008. However, the percentages of the four suborders represented by 14.4, 23.9, 2.9 and 58.8% for Gamasida, Actinedida, Oribatida and Acaridida, respectively.