Survey of insects and mites inhabiting leaves and soil of lantana camara L. in Assiut Governorate

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted throughout whole year of 2009 on lantana hedges bordering farms at cultivated land and newly reclaimed area in Assiut Governorate. The survey revealed the presence of four insect species [Aphis nasturtii Kaltenbach Bemisia tabaci [Gennadius]; Empoasca decipiens Paoli; Scolothrips Iongicornis Priesner], and two mite species [Tetranychus urticae Koch and Amblyseius sp.] on lantana leaves in the two studied areas. Additionally, eleven soil mite species belonging to ten families [Caloglyphus sp. Acaridae; Euphthiracarus sp. Euphthiracaridae; Galumna sp. Galumnidae; Sterroppia sp., Oppiella sp. Oppiidae; Ololaelaps bregetovae Laelapidae; Lasioseius quinisetosus Ascidae; Parasitus sp. Parasitidae; Acaropsella notchi Cheyletidae; Pediculochelus sp. Pediculochelidae and Spinibdeila sp. Bdellidae] were recorded. The population density of A. nasturtii, B. tabaci E. decipiens and Amblyseius sp, was more abundant at newly reclaimed area, while T. urticae and S. longicornis were more abundant at cultivated land. Also, the newly reclaimed area harbored higher numbers of soil mites than that of cultivated land. The Cryptostigmata species exhibited the higher number followed by Astigmata and Mesostigmata, while low numbers of the Prostigmata were recorded in the cultivated land and newly reclaimed area