INCIDENCE and SEASONAL FLUCTUATION of MITES INHABITING SPONGE GOURD, Luffa cylindrica M. ROEM. at SHARKIA GOVERNORATE, EGYPT

The present work was carried out to study the incidence and population fluctuation of mites inhabiting Luffa cylindrica M. Roem. in three districts at Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. Eleven species of mites were recorded where the phytophagous mite Brevipalpus obovatus Donnadieu and the predacious species Amblyseius badryi Yousef El-Borollosy were the most abundant species. Interrelation between mite species and both temperature relative humidity, also, pest mites – predators interrelations,were studied