Population Fluctuations of Mites Inhabiting Three Kinds of Animals' Manure in Two Locations in Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Plant Prot. Dept., Fac. of Agric. (Saba Basha), Alexandria Univ., Egypt.

2 Ent. & Zool. Dept., Fac. of Agric., El-Monufia Univ., Egypt.

Abstract

Monthly population fluctuations of mites inhabiting cattle manure, sheep manure and poultry manure in Abees and Abo-Hommous representing Alexandria and Beheira Governorates respectively in Egypt were studied. Population densities of the four mite suborders fluctuated from a month to another all year round in the three types of manure concerning the two locations of study and occurred in this descending order; Acaridida, Gamasida Oribatida and Actinedida in cattle manure in both locations. On the other hand, they were in the descending order; Acaridida, Actinedida, Gamasida and Oribatida in sheep and poultry manures, in both locations. There were significant differences among the mean numbers of mites in certain months of inspections in all the suborders in the different manure types and locations except suborder Actinedida in cattle and sheep manures in Abo-Hommous.
No significant correlation was found between mean mite numbers of any two suborders in the three manure
types and the two locations except strong positive correlations only between oribatid mites and gamasid
mites moreover, between Actinedid mites and acaridid mites in cattle manure in Abees.
No significant correlation was found between mean mite numbers of any suborder in the three manure types
of the two locations and air temperature, relative humidity or percentages of manure moisture content.

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