Environmental management and biological aspects of two eriophyid mango mites in egypt: Aceria mangiferae and metaculus mangiferae

Abstract

The mango bud Aceria mangiferae Sayed and the mango rust mite Metaculus mangiferae (Attiah) were studied for two years in an abandoned mango orchard in Egypt. The eriophyid mites were fed upon by two predatory phytoseiid mites Typhlodromus mangiferus Zaher and El-Borolossy and Typhlodromips swirskii (Athias-Henriot). Population abundance of the eriophyid mango prey were affected by climatic conditions, predation, shady and sunny zones and vertical distribution. A control measure of one winter acaricides treatment, applied after budding, seemed to be the most successful management of the harmful mites. Higher temperature enhanced development of A. mangiferae and M. mangiferae. Some of the life table parameters varied greatly, especially at 25 °C and 60 % RH and 35 °C and 50 % RH. Field and laboratory studies indicated that viviparity is a typical character in the reproduction of M. mangiferae. © Abou-Awad et al.