TAXONOMY AND BEHAVIOR OF SOME PREDACIOUS GAMASID MITES USED IN BIOLOGICAL CONTROL By MAHMOUD MOHAMED RAMADAN MOHAMED B.Sc. Agric. Sci. (Plant protection), Fac. Agric., Cairo Univ., 2007 M. Sc. Agric. Sci., (Zoology and Agricultural Nematology) Fac. Agric., Cairo Univ., 2014 THESIS Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In Agricultural Sciences (Agricultural Zoology) Department of Zoology and Agricultural Nematology Faculty of Agriculture Cairo University EGYPT 2019 Format Reviewer Vice Dean of Graduate Studies APPROVAL SHEET TAXONOMY AND BEHAVIOR OF SOME PREDACIOUS GAMASID MITES USED IN BIOLOGICAL CONTROL Ph.D. Thesis In Agric. Sci. (Agricultural Zoology) By MAHMOUD MOHAMED RAMADAN MOHAMED B.Sc. Agric. Sci. (Plant protection), Fac. Agric., Cairo Univ., 2007 M. Sc. Agric. Sci., (Zoology and Agricultural Nematology) Fac. Agric., Cairo Univ., 2014 APPROVAL COMMITTEE Dr. SAFAA MOUSTAFA ABO-TAKA …………………………………... Professor of Acarology, Minufiya University Dr. MOHAMED ABDEL AZIZ ZAHER ……………………………..… Professor of Acarology, Fac. Agric., Cairo University Dr. ABD ELRADY KORASHY NASR……………………………….…… Professor of Acarology, Plant Protection Department, NRC Dr. MORAD FAHMY HASSAN …………………………………………….. Professor of Acarology, Fac. Agric., Cairo University Date: 4 / 7 /2019 1- ABSTRACT Since Zaher 1986, no Survey has been done on gamasid mites in Egypt. Also, only 9 out of 60 families of Gamasida had been recorded from Egypt as Nasr 1978 reported 42 predatory gamasid mites. So, the study aimed to undergo survey, taxonomy and behavior of the predacious gamasid mites in various locations from Egypt. In addition to importance of this taxonomical and behavior work it helps us for selecting the precise predator to suppress the target pest. Taxonomical studies during the present work included 80 predatory mite species belonging to 12 families and 7 super families collected from soil, root, debris and dung animals throughout fourteen Governorates. Studies also included description of the four new predacious mites (Protogamasellopsis aegypticus, Proprioseiopsis aegypticus, Proprioseiopsis guajavus and Proprioseiopsis damiettansis), two firstly record in Egypt (Protogamasellopsis corticalis and Gamasholaspis gamasoides) and re-description of immature stages, adult female and male of the common predacious mite Protogamasolopsis denticus. Biological studies for five selected predatory mites (Protogamasellopsis denticus, Gaeolaelaps longus, Cosmolaelaps keni, Laelaps astronomicus and Proprioseiopsis aegypticus) on twelve Insects (Ephestia kuehniella, Sitotroga cerealella , Phthorimaea operculella, Agrotis ipsilon, Bactrocera zonata eggs and Thrips tabaci nymphes), mites (Caloglyphus rodriguez, Mycetoglyphus fungivorus, Orthotedius californicus and Tetranychus urticae nymphs) and nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) pests were selected as prey for various predatory mites. Behavior studies (Multiple generations, Intragued predation (IGP) and cannibalism). The goal of our studies was throw lights on f cannibalism and IGP on population development and ovipostion period, As an indicator of the ability of G. longus, C. keni and P. denticus to cannibalistic behavior in the absence of natural and alternative foods. 2- INTRODUCTION Since Zaher 1986, no survey has been done on gamasid mites in Egypt. Also, only 9 out of 70 families of gamasida has been recorded from Egypt. Nasr 1978 reported 42 predatory gamasid mites from Egypt. So, this study aimed to undergo survey and taxonomy of the predacious gamasid mites in various locations (which have been not surveyed before). We should keep in mind, that the corrected identity of any taxa of mites is considered the first step in any ecological, biological and physiological studies when considering an IPM programme for any pest. Taxonomical study of this group of mites is essential to identify the new texa and first record species to Egypt. The importance of this taxonomical work helps us for selecting the precise predator to suppress the target pest. Many of the predatory Gamasida have been studied because of their potential to be used as biological control agents of agricultural pests or of parasites. Biological control with the use of predatory mites have long been used, but most recently the interest for this method of pest control has increased for different reasons, especially for the growing interest of people to consume agricultural items produced with a minimum or no pesticide use. Another reason is the progressively greater difficulty faced by growers to control pests with the use of chemicals, to which they became resistant. The Gamasida mites is a large mite order consisting of about 11,500 species, corresponding to about 20 % of all known mite species (Zhang, 2013). These are found in different habitats, but are most abundant and diverse in the soil. Most members are predatory on nematodes, small insects and other mites in a variety of sub aquatic and arboreal habitats (Lindquist, 1979). The Gamasid mites were divided into three suborders (Monogynaspida, Trigynaspida and Sejida). There are about 12000 species belonging to approximately 70 families grouped into 26 superfamilies (Lindquist et al. 2009). The majority of gamasida are mobile predators of Nematodes, other mites, collembolans, enchytraeids, and small insects larvae. Thus, the presence of gamasid mites has reflected the physical and chemical conditions of soil, including organic materials, microflora (fungi and bacteria), microfauna (nematodes), and (collembolans, oribatids, and other mites Karg, (1993). Mites of the family Rhodacaridae Oudemans, 1902 (Mesostigmata: Rhodacaroidea) are widespread in soil and in accumulations of decaying organic matters (Lindquist et al., 2009). Species of this family have been observed to prey on nematodes, small insects, mites and springtails (Castilho et al., 2009). Specifically, Protogamasellopsis. We hope in the future through this study on the predatory mite Protogamasellopsis denticus to be used within the programs of biological control of agricultural pests, especially nematode. Mites of the family Laelapidae are predators of invertebrate soil organisms (Beaulieu and Walter, 2007). Predation in suspended and forest floor soils: Observations on Australian mesostigmatic mites. Most feed on nematodes, and eggs or larvae of microarthropods (Walter and Proctor, 1999).Specifically, Gaeolaelaps aculeifer Canestrini and Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Womersley) are effective biocontrol agents against bulb or mould mites (Astigmata: Acaridae), shore flies (Diptera: Ephydridae) and nematodes (Tylenchida: Tylenchidae) Freire and de Moraes, (2007). Also uses against thrips have been demonstrated in greenhouse and open field crops (Navarro-Campos et al., 2016). Phytoseiid mites are predators of phytophagous mites and small insects (such as thrips and whiteflies) of various crops world wide. Several phytoseiid species have been commercially produced for the control of tetranychid mites and thrips (McMurtry et al., 2013; Vangansbek et al., 2013). Predatory mites are among these agents, especially those of the family Phytoseiidae, order Mesostigmata, which are widely used for the control of phytophagous mites and small insects inhabiting the aerial plant parts. For the control of edaphic pests or pests that spend part of their life in the soil, four predatory mites of the family Laelapidae have also been used, namely Androlaelaps casalis (Berlese), Gaeolaelaps aculeifer (Canestrini), Stratiolaelaps miles (Berlese) and Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Womersley) against many pests such as nematodes and small insects (Moreira, et al., 2015). Some phenomena associated with many mesostigmatic mites have been documented by Schausberger (2003). Phenomena included cannibalism, aggrisiveness, feeding and non feeding larvae and competition should be studied in details to understand the predatory behavior of various mesostigmatic mites for species that have not been studied before and played an important role in biological control. 3- Aim of work 1- Survey on various predatory soil mesostigmatic mite species associated with plants and fruit trees. 2- Identification of collected mites to species level. 3- The study will be directed to the ability of using these selected species for augmentation release for rapid biological control or for long-term regulation of spider, mites and nematode as well as insects. 4- Studies on the feeding habits of various predacious species, which proved to be new to science or first record in Egypt (studies included various mites and insects pests as well as nematodes). 4- Study of some factors (biotic and a biotic) affecting reproduction and sex ratio in selected species which could be important when a biological control program was selected for a target pest. The studies on selected species; could play an important role in the success of the biological control programs. 4-Review A. Phytoseiid mites Plant pollens are also a Kind of alternative food sources for generalist Phytoseiid mites such as Proprioseiopsis rotendus (Muma) and P.asetus (Chant) (Fouly, 1997). Many species of the family Phytoseiidae are facultative predators (generalists), which are not only mite predators but they also have the ability to feed on other source of food such as whitefly, pollen (Gnanvossous et al., 2005) and thrips (Messelinket al., 2006). Phytoseiid predatory mites are well known predators of thrips larvae on the foliage of plants and are commercially available for this purpose (Messelinket