Qualitative and quantitative survey of mite and insect pests infesting ornamental plants in Giza governorate

Abstract EN

Ornamental plants are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design and play important role in human health and psychology.

The aim of this research paper is to study the survey mites and insects infesting three ornamental plants, Lantana camara L., Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.

and Acalypha wilkesiana Müll.

Moreover, biweekly sampling was done for two successive years extending from January 2014 to December 2015 to evaluate the population density and the population dynamic of phytophagous pests and their natural enemies infesting these previous plants in Giza Governorate.

The survey revealed the presence of 28 mite species and 24 genera belonging to 12 families and four orders collected from leaves and debris under the previous plants; while survey of insect were 23 insect species and 18 genera belonging to 11 families and five orders.

The frequent pests were the two spotted spider mites (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch ( Acari : Tetranychidae ), the mealybug, Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell) (Hemiptera : Pseudococcidae ) and the aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and the predatory mites, Phytoseiulus persimilis (Athias-Henriot) and Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae).

The results showed that the mealybug was the most dominant species on hibiscus followed by the TSSM on acalypha then the aphid on lantana, while the predators were abundant on hibiscus shrubs.