Survey on Mites Associated with Major Insect Pests Infesting Stored Grains in Middle Delta

Abstract

The present study was directed towards the habitat of various mite species as predators, fungivores or as parasites associated with insects inhabiting grains and stored products. Samples were collected monthly from maize, wheat flour, broad bean, wheat and rough rice in four governorates, Kafr El-Sheikh, Dakahleya, Gharbeya and Menoufeya during the period between March 2003 and February 2004. The results revealed that: 1) The mite survey revealed the occurrence of 13 predatory species belonging to one family of the suborder Gamasida, and 6 families of the suborder Actinedida. Also 7 species belong to 4 families of the suborder Acaridida, were recorded as scavengers or fungivores. 2) The most abundant predaceous mites were: Blattisocius keegani Fox followed by Cheyletus malaccensis Oudemans, then Blattisocius tarsalis (Berlese). 3) The most abundant fungivore mites were: Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Shranck), Rhizoglyphus robini Claparède, and Acarus siro Linnaeus. 4) The most infested stored grains with mites was maize followed by wheat, rough rice, broad bean seeds then wheat flour. 5) The major insect pests of stored grains and seeds and associated mites were listed herein.

Survey of Main Mites and Insect Species Associated with Stored Maize in Giza Governorate

“…The obtained result agrees with that of Taha (1985); Hoda et al, (1990) and El-Sayed and Ghallab (2007) whose cited that C. malaccensis was the most common species of prostigmatid mites associated with different types of stored products.…”

“…A stored grain including maize provides all the essential nutritive requirements for insects and mites that capable of chewing the hard kernels. Due to the enormous biotic potential of these pests, heating of grain-mass and moisture translocation occurs, which permit the development of molds and also prevent the grain germination, [Zdarkova, (1996); Stejskal et al, (2003); El-Sayed and Ghallab, (2007) and Tefera et al, (2010)].…”

“…Contamination by alive and dead mite in different stages such as exuviae and feaces results in being harmful for human consumption. In addition, it causes various diseases to fodder workers and also leads to gastric disorders in animals that eats infested fodder, Hughes, (1976); Sinha and Wallace, (1977);Taha, (1985); Nangia et al, (1989) and El-Sayed and Ghallab, (2007).…”

Studies on Biology of Ascid mite, Blattisocius keegani (Acari: Gamasida: Ascidae) When Fed on Two Astigmatid Mites at Different Laboratory Conditions

“…Large numbers of mites are known to infest many of grains and stored products throughout the world. These mites attack damaged and undamaged grains devouring the embryos and other surrounding tissues (El-Sayed and Ghallab, 2007), prevents germination, and reduces the nutritive values. Mites of the genus Rhizoglyphus (Claparede) are commonly associated with plants with bulbs, corms and tubers.…”

“…Mites of the family Ascidae (Mesostigmata) are considered the main predators of stored product mites and of some small insects. Previous studies recorded the presence of Blattisocius species in different stored foodstuff: bean (Saleh, 1980), wheat bran (Saleh et al, 1985), bran (Baker, 2000;Athanassiou et al, 2001), rice and barley (Al-Nasser, 2007), maize, wheat flour, wheat, broad bean and rice (El-Sayed and Ghallab, 2007). Some Blattisocius species found in stored foods have been studied to determine their potential as predators of pest arthropods (Halliday et al, 1998;Thind and Ford, 2006;Britto et al, 2012).…”