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 longicornis 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 Spinibdella 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.