Survey was conducted to identify phytophagous, predaceous and miscellaneous feeding mite species from
five locations in Qalubia governorate (Arab Elhassania, Arab Alkhilwa, Meet Kinana , Namol , Eldar) on two
strawberry cultivars during two successive season (2019/2020 and 2020/2021). Taxa reported the occurrence of
thirty-nine species representing of sixteen families. Among the species, eight belonging to tetranychid and
tenuipalpid mite species dominated by Tetranychus urticae. Seventeen species of predators belonging to six
families are recorded (Phytoseiidae, Ascidae, Stigmaeidae, Cunaxidae, Bdellidae and Digamasellidae). The most
common predator on plants was Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot. Population dynamics of Tetranychus
urticae Koch and its predator Phytoseiulus persimilis were recorded on two strawberry cultivars during the two
seasons. The population of T. urticae reached their high peaks of infestation in the third week of March and the
first week of February (12.63 & 35.60) during 2019/2020 and in the last week of January and February (9.30
&15.93) mean number /30 leaflet during 2020/2021 for moving stages, Fortona and Florida cultivars
respectively. The phytoseiid mite, P. persimilis was recorded in association with the population of T. urticae,
when it appeared in high peak in the first week of March and the first of January (2.33&4.40 and 2.43& 1.95)
mean number /30 leaflet for moving stages during the two seasons of the study respectively. Populations of T.
urticae and P. persimilis showed a positive correlation with average temperature and negatively correlated with
relative humidity |
