A study on mite species in marjoram and chamomile plantations in Fayoum was
carried out during 2003 and 2004 seasons. Twenty-six species were found and
divided according to their feeding habits into three major groups, phytophagous (7
species), predaceous (8 species) and a group of debatable feeding habits (11
species). Population density evaluation showed that Tetranychus urticae Koch was
the main phytophagous mite on both hosts. The predatory mite Amblyseius
cydnodactylon Shehata and Zaher was dominant on marjoram followed by
Hemicheyletia bakeri (Ehara). From the debatable group, Pronematus ubiquitus Mc
Gregor was the dominant followed by Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) and
Paralorryia gizai El-Bagoury. On chamomile, the predatory mite Eupodes niloticus
Abou-Awad & El-Bagoury was dominant and from the debatable group, Tydeus
kochi Oud. was dominant followed by T. putrescentiae and P. gizai. Population
densities were insignificantly affected by temperature and relative humidity.