Arthropod diversity associated with infestation spots of fig tree under rain-fed conditions of Maged vally, Matrouh. Egypt.

Abstract

Fig orchards (beside olive ones) constitute the main agriculture component along the Egyptian north western coast. Fig tree borer; Trichoferus gracious (Fabricius, 1792) (Order: Coleoptera, Family: Cerambicidae) considers as one of the highest dangerous pests attacking fig tree. Through regarding arthropod diversity associated with infestation spots of T. gracious, obtained data showed that, recovered species were belonged to 9 orders. Among them, order Coleoptera was the highest represented, which repeated 18 times throughout the whole investigation period. Total numbers of detected species were 20 ones, from which coleopteran and hymenopteran species occupied the maximum share by 7 species for each order. Recovered individuals were represented by 154 ones. Among them coleopteran individuals with 46 total detected ones came on the top of the list. Among such arthropods, beneficial species was of higher dominance and abundance than herbivorous ones. Although data revealed that, T. griseus was of low dominance and abundance percentages, it was the only primary herbivorous species that responsible for opening the way for the other herbivores ones to perform their damages.