Spiders and Mites Associated with Apple Trees, and the First Record of Coleosoma floridanum in Egypt

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the community structure of spiders and mites that inhabit apple trees in a designated region within Kafr-El Sahel village, Gharbia governorate, Egypt, over a period of six months. Results obtained revealed that there are 16 families of canopy and ground dwelling juveniles or adult predator spiders, which included 23 species. In addition, the collected taxonomic data revealed a theridiid spider Coleosoma floridanum (Banks,1900) for the first time in Egypt, based on three specimens (adult females, males and juveniles), collected from the ground under apple trees. Eight mite species were identified; three species were predators, three phytophagous, and two mycophagous on apple leaves. Spiders and predatory mites are among the most common natural enemies of harmful pests in apple orchards and they can be used as bio-control agents for the development of integrated pest management strategy.

Keywords:

Acari, apple, Araneae, Coleosoma, female genitalia, phytophagous mites.