Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is one
of the most important medicinal plants in Egypt. The experiment carried out at
Fayoum Governorate during two successive growing seasons, 2104/2015 and
2015/2016, to compare the effects of organic and conventional plantation of
chamomile on the occurrence of some sucking insect pests and their natural
enemies, spiders (Araneae) were the major and most abundant predators. Aphids, Aphis
gossypii Glov. was the major insect pest. Organic plants hosted number of
aphids less than conventional plants in two seasons. Thrips, Thrips tabaci Lind.,
also were higher in number in conventional plants than in organic plants. Plant
bug was observed with few numbers in both plantations. Three natural enemies;
coccinellid larvae, orius and insect parasites were found in rare numbers for
organic and conventional plants throughout the study period. The population density,
species diversity, and relative abundance of spiders were studied. Population
of spiders was higher in conventional plantation (106 & 114 individ.) than
in organic plantation (89 & 97 individ.) in two seasons, respectively,
which may be due to the infestation with sucking insect pests that was more in
conventional plants than in organic plants.