STUDIES ON MITES INHABITING SOIL UNDERNEATH CERTAIN FRUIT TREES IN EGYPT

Abstract

Pome trees, are by far the most important fruit crop in Egypt as well as overall the world. At present, many parts of new reclaimed lands in Egypt are under cultivation with various fruit trees such as apple, pear and guava as far as other fruit crops for both local consumption and expott.

Unfortunately, the studies of mites inhabiting soil beneath either pome trees or guava trees have been greatly hampered by the lack of modern refrence works from which they can be identified. However, this great lack stimulated our attentions to launch just such these studies.

Therefore, it seemed worthwhile an attempt to study the ecology of mites inhabiting soil u nderneath apple, pear and guava biotopes in three loca lities, i.e. Alexandria, Behera and Menoufia. In addition, correlations \Vith weather factors, species composition and population fluctuations of the most dominant species were concerned.

1. Ecological studies:

The present studies, which were initiated in January 1998, terminated in December 1998, were conducted at orchards in the three localities, viz. Khorshed, Abo-Hommous and Shebin El-Kom, presented Alexandria, Behera and Menoufia Governorates, respectivel y. The experiments were designed to survey the fauna of soil mites inhabiting three different bioto pes, i.e. apple, pear trees and guava trees.