ABSTRACT

No abstract

The study herein presents brief characterizations and a new identification key for some Acaridides (43 species) collected from different habitats in upper Egypt during 1993 to 2003 in addition to a new species. The present key of the Acaridides hypopi is a blending of both keys illustrated by Eraky, 1997 (for 16 histiostomatid species pertaining to 6 genera) and Eraky, 2000 (for 26 histiostomatid and acaridid species belonging to 12 genera). While, Eraky (1990) erected an identification key for all histiostomatid genera, the present work is a continuity of the collecting activity of the first author. Samples were collected from manure and dunghills (Assiut and Sohag Governorates), planted onion and garlic, potato tubers, pomegranate and date fruits, uprooted banana suckers and rodent burrows (Assiut Governorate) ; nests of termites (Aswan, Qena and New Valley Governorates) and skin of dead animals (El-Minia governorate). The identification key is simple and easy to understand and the diagnosis is in most cases based on genera and species. A new mite species, extracted from nests of termites in Qena Governorate, is described and illustrated.

Caloglyphus manuri sp. n. (Acari: Acaridae) extracted from chicken manure, in a chicken farm at the Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Egypt. This new species is described and illustrated.

The distribution of moulds on stored and field onion and garlic plants infested by bulb mites in Assiut area (Egypt) was studied using PDA medium at 28 degrees C. Among 40 host samples and the three mite species tested no significant difference was noted in the contamination by moulds. A total of 20 species appertaining to 11 genera were identified from the tested mites and their habitats. The predominant moulds on all samples were "storage moulds" from the genera Aspergillus (A. niger, A. versicolor) and Penicillium (P. chrysogenum, P. funiculosum, and "field moulds" among which Alternaria, Cladosporium, Fusarium (and its teleomorphs) and Setosphaeria were encountered most frequently. One fungus well known facultative pathogen was obtained: Beauveria bassiana. The tested mites transfer A. niger, N. haematococca, R. stolonifer and P chrysogenum outside their bodies while, A. flavus and A. ochraceus transfer through their digestive tracts along with the foods. Individuals of all mites could survived till the end of the experiment on all fungal species tested except A. niger, A. ochraceus and A. sydowii. Among 48 isolates screened for their ability to produce chitinase, about 83% of the isolates could produce this enzyme. Most of the positive isolates (17 isolates) had moderate producers