MITE FAUNA ASSOCIATED WITH SOME DOMESTIC AND WILD AGRICULTURAL ANIMALS AND THEIR HABITAT IN EGYPT

Abstract

Random samples were collected from Giza Qualubyia and Minufyia Governorates during summer, autumn and winter 2001. The collected samples were litter, poultry feed and feather from chickens, ducks, pekeeny ducks and geese and hair from rabbits (as domestic animals) and feathers from quails, rozella birds, zebra birds and kockteel birds (as wild animals which were in captivity). Mites belonging to twenty-seven families of four suborders; viz., Gamasida, Actinedida, Acaridida and Oribatida plus the hypopal stage of family Acaridae, were collected. Out of 27 families, 24, 14 and 11 were found in Qaliobia, Giza and Minufyia Governorates, respectively. However, number of mites, percentage of occurrence and dominance differentiated families in and between localities. Number of mites during autumn season was highest, representing 21 families followed by summer then winter. Hypopal stage represented about 20{%} of mite population in autumn season; no hypopal stage were collected in summer and winter. Litter harbored mites of all 27 families, and hypopal stage which was not found in feather and food. The percentage of mites and hypopal stage was 89.39{%} in litter, followed by feather (9.51{%}) then food (1.1{%}). Only 6 and 5 families were found in food and feather, respectively. Feather of Pekeeny ducks harbored 49.5{%} of mites while chicken's feather harbored 42.6{%}. The percentage of mites in leftover food was 89{%} while it was 11{%} in food before feeding. The most common mite families in this study were Acaridae, Glycyphagidae, Pyroglyphidae, Cheyletidae, Ascidae and Dermanyssidae. The role of the animals under investigation, their habitat as a source of stored product mites and the dominance of the recorded mite families are also discussed in detail.