Fahad Jaber Alatawi

Phytophagous and predaceous mites associated with vegetable crops from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

This study was conducted to investigate phytophagous and predatory mites associated with vegetable plants in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Eight phytophagous and 10 predacious mites were collected from 14 species of vegetable crops covering five major production localities. Out of these 18 mite species, 13 species are new to the mite fauna of Saudi Arabia. In addition, the two species, Tenuipalpus punicae and Agistemus exsertus, are reported for the first time on vegetable crops in Saudi Arabia. For each mite species found, notes on host plant association and occurrence period are given. An illustrated key for the identification of the 18 mite species reported in this study is provided and this can be used to improve the IPM programs by applying the local natural predatory mites in controlling mite pests in Saudi Arabia.

Biology, Predation, and Life Table of Cydnoseius negevi and Neoseiulus barkeri (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on the Old World Date Mite, Oligonychus afrasiaticus (Acari: Tetranychidae)

ABSTRACT. The old world date mite, Oligonychus afrasiaticus (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae) is a severe spider mite pest of date palm in most of the Middle East and North Africa. Considering that nothing is known about the performance of phytoseiid predators against O. afrasiaticus, biology, predation, and life table parameters of Cydnoseius negevi (Swirski and Amitai) and Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes (Acari: Phytoseiidae), collected from date palm orchards, were studied under laboratory conditions (25, 35°C and 35 ± 10% RH) as a first step to understand their effectiveness against all mobile life stages of O. afrasiaticus. For both predators, oviposition period was significantly shorter at 35°C than at 25°C. The following parameters were obtained for C. negevi and N. barkeri at 25 and 35°C, respectively: female longevity, 31.8, 20.1, 35.7, 27.4 d; fecundity, 21.6, 38.0, 18.8, 34.8 eggs per female; oviposition period, 23.9, 13.7, 25.9, 18.1 d. Total predation of C. negevi and N. barkeri female was 246.0, 270.0, 227.6, 205.3 prey at 25 and 35°C, respectively. Rectal plugs were observed attached to the opisthosoma of some adult females of N. barkeri, which often cause the mite to stick to the surface. Life table parameters were estimated as net reproductive rate (R 0) 10.44, 17.35, 10.19, 13.84, intrinsic rate of increase (r m) 0.14, 0.19, 0.13, 0.16 d-1, finite rate of increase (&lgr;) 1.15, 1.21, 1.12, 1.17 d-1, generation time (T) 17.03, 15.17, 17.83, 16.61 d, doubling time (DT) 04.95, 03.64, 05.33, 04.33 d for C. negevi and N. barkeri at 25 and 35°C, respectively. The values of intrinsic rate of increase and net reproductive rate were higher in C. negevi than N. barkeri at both temperature regimes. Therefore, it could be concluded that C. negevi performance was better than N. barkeri against O. afrasiaticus and can be considered as a valuable addition to the existing methods for spider mites control.

Erythraeid mites (Prostigmata, Erythraeidae) from Saudi Arabia, description of three new species and a new record

Abstract Three erythraeid genera Balaustium von Heyden, Charletonia Oudemans, and Erythraeus Latreille (Trombidiformes: Prostigmata) are reported for first time from Saudi Arabia based on three new larval species, Balaustium yousifi sp. n., Charletonia bahaensis sp. n., and Erythraeus (Erythraeus) uhadi sp. n. and one new record Erythraeus (Zaracarus) lancifer Southcott. All the three new species are described and illustrated from larvae.

Incidence of predatory phytoseiid mites in Saudi Arabia: new records and a key to the Saudi Arabian species (Acari: Mesostigmata: Gamasina)

Abstract Cydnoseius negevi (Swirski & Amitai, 1961), Neoseiulus paspalivorus (De Leon, 1957) and Proprioseiopsis beatus (Chaudhri, 1968) are reported for the first time from Saudi Arabia. The mite genus Cydnoseius Muma, 1967 is also new to the Saudi Arabian fauna. Cydnoseius negevi was collected from various host plants in three different regions (Riyadh, Hail, Eastern region) while N. paspalivorus and P. beatus were collected from Cynodon dactylon L. (Poaceae) in date palm orchards in Riyadh and Eastern region respectively. A key is provided to the adult females of the known species of Phytoseiidae of Saudi Arabia.

Spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) of Saudi Arabia: two new species, new records and a key to all known species

ABSTRACT A total of 18 spider mite species belonging to 10 genera of the family Tetranychidae (Acari: Prostigmata) are reported from different provinces of Saudi Arabia (SA). Among these, two new species, Sonotetranychus madinahensis sp. nov. and Tetranychus salicornicus sp. nov., belonging to the subfamily Tetranychinae are described and illustrated. Also, five genera and 11 species are new to the mite fauna of SA. The distribution and host data of all recorded species in the current study are provided. A key to all spider mite species of SA is provided as well as a key to the species of the armenychus species group of the genus Tetranychus Dufour, based on males. www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C41BB3ED-99D5-4DCF-B557-09526FA7D56B

Predatory prostigmatid mite (Acari: Trombidiformes) fauna of the date palm agro-ecosystem in Saudi Arabia

Abstract A comprehensive survey was conducted at different provinces of Saudi Arabia (SA) to investigate predacious prostigmatid mites (Acari: Trombidiformes: Prostigmata) mainly collected from the date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L. (Arecaceae) agro-ecosystem. A total of 41 species belonging to 28 genera in 14 families are recorded in the present study. Out of these, three families, 18 genera and 36 species are new to the mite fauna of SA. The new species, Neobonzia tabukensis sp.nov. (Cunaxidae), Cheletomimus (Philippicheyla) taifensis sp.nov. (Cheyletidae) are described and illustrated. A checklist of predatory prostigmatid mites from SA is given. A key to all terrestrial predatory prostigmatid mites, excluding Parasitegona and Heterostigmatina, reported from SA is provided. Also, a key to world species of the subgenus Philippicheyla Corpuz-Raros of the genus Cheletomimus Oudemans is given.

The genus Paraplonobia Wainstein and Neopetrobia Wainstein (Acari, Trombidiformes, Tetranychidae) from Saudi Arabia: new species, new records and key to the world species of Paraplonobia

Abstract The two tetranychid genera Paraplonobia Wainstein and Neopetrobia Wainstein (Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae) are reported for the first time from Saudi Arabia. Three new species Paraplonobia (Anaplonobia) arabica Mirza & Alatawi, sp. n., Paraplonobia (Anaplonobia) haloxylonia Alatawi & Mirza, sp. n. and Paraplonobia (Anaplonobia) tabukensis Kamran & Alatawi, sp. n. are described and illustrated based on adult females, collected from Prosopis juliflora (SW.) Dc. (Fabaceae) and Haloxylon salicornicum Bunge (Amaranthaceae) from two different regions of Saudi Arabia. Neopetrobia mcgregori (Pritchard and Baker) is redescribed and illustrated based on female collected from Cynodon dactylon L. (Poaceae).The diagnostic morphological features including leg chaetotaxy of all known species of the subgenus Anaplonobia is tabulated. A key to the world species of the genus Paraplonobia is also provided.

Mesostigmatic mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) of Saudi Arabia (excluding Phytoseioidea), new records and a key to the known species

This paper reports on 35 species and 33 genera belonging to 18 families of the order Mesostigmata, collected from different provinces of Saudi Arabia. Among these, eight families, 21 genera and 30 species, mostly collected from date palm agroecosystem, are new to the fauna of Saudi Arabia. Five species reported previously are also recorded in this study. The collection data and distribution of all species recorded in this study as well as those reported previously are given. A comprehensive key to the females of the mesostigmatic mites reported from Saudi Arabia, except the Phytoseioidea, is provided.

Genus Agistemus Summers (Acari: Trombidiformes: Stigmaeidae) from Saudi Arabia and a key to the world species

Abstract Five stigmaeid species belonging to the genus Agistemus Summers (Acari: Trombidiformes: Stigmaeidae) are recorded from different regions of Saudi Arabia. Among these, Agistemus jawadi sp. nov., inhabiting on Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf. is described and illustrated based on female. Two species, A. fleschneri Summers and A. aimogastaensis Leiva et al. are recorded as new to the fauna of Saudi Arabia. Two species A. fleschneri and A. exsertus Gonzalez-Rodriguez are re-described based on adult females. Moreover, Agistemus species are categorized in two species groups;fleschneri and terminalis based on one and two pairs of aggenital setae respectively. A key to the world species of the genus Agistemus is provided. Three species, Agistemus rafiqi Khan et al., A. rawalpindiensis Khan et al. and A. layyahensis Khan et al. are considered as junior synonyms of Agistemus garrulus Chaudhri et al. 1974.

Webbing life type and behavioral response of the date palm mite, Oligonychus afrasiaticus, to webbing residues on leaves and fruits of date palm

The present study examined the webbing life type and behavioral response of date palm mite (DPM) Oligonychus afrasiaticus (McGregor) toward its webbing residues, in presence or absence of immature individuals, on leaves and fruits of date palm. DPM exhibited a complicated web life type on both the leaves and fruits of date palm, which is characterized by the following features: complicated irregular web structure; webbing density on the leaves is medium and on the fruits extremely high; eggs are always laid on the threads of web without web cover; fecal pellets are deposited on the substrate surface (both leaf and fruit); quiescent stages are on the silken web threads; and the preferred site for feeding and walking is under the web. Behavioral observation of DPM females revealed that the midrib of leaves and the base of fruits of date palm were the preferred sites for feeding and web construction. The number and development stage of DPM affected the behavioral response of females on date palm leaves but not on the fruits. DPM spent most time feeding under the web on both the leaves and fruits of date palm.