Ecological, Biological and Control Studies on the Leaf Coating and Webbing Mite Cisaberoptus kenyae Keifer (Eriophyoidea: Eriophyidae) in Egypt

Abstract

The leaf coating and webbing mite Cisaberoptus kenyae Keifer was observed for two years in an abandoned mango orchard in Egypt. The eriophyid mite was fed upon by the two predatory phytoseiid mites Typhlodromips swirskii (Athias-Henriot) and Typhlodromus mangiferus Zaher and El-Borolossy. Population dynamics of the eriophyid mango prey were affected by climatic conditions, predation, shady and sunny zones and vertical distribution. About 16 & 18; and 15 & 13 generations were recorded for C. kenyae on cvs. «Hindi and Alphonso» during two successive years, respectively. Leaves at bottom levels of both mango cultivars were found preferable to the mite feeding than those at the top and middle. Higher temperature enhanced faster development of C. kenyae. A control measure of one treatment with acaricides in the winter after budding resulted in effective control.