An inventory was carried out at five stations in the oasis of Ziban, an oasis that is characterized by its high-quality dates, in order to study the relationships between the oasis ecosystem and its insect fauna. Specimens were sampled using pitfall traps containing ethylene glycol as a preservative. In total, 115 arthropod species were collected during 5 months of survey. These species belonged to 61 families, 17 orders, and 4 classes (12 orders from Insecta, 3 from Arachnida, 1 from Chilopoda, and 1 from Malocostraca). The most represented insect orders were Coleoptera (44.42%), Hymenoptera (20.86%), and Lepidoptera (7.87%). Represented in the collections were phytophagous, omnivorous, and predator/parasite species. Given the large number of species collected, and the largely unknown relationships existing between the various ecological groups, this study is a first step in the description of the oasis entomofauna.
Longicorn beetle, Trichoferus griseus (Fabricius, 1792) (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) is one of the most damaging fig tree pests at the Egyptian Northwestern Coast (ENC). The current paper discusses the first experience in masstrapping of T. griseus adults by McPhail traps made with re-used PET water bottles. Traps were lured by unmarketable fig fruits immersed in a small amount of water with a bit of any insecticide. This kind of trap is considered competitive for low cost, easily handled and the re-use of PET bottles lowers the wasted plastic that may have good environmental impacts. Also the use of non-tradable fig-fruits as lure advantages the management of wastes. This study confirms the knowledge on T. griseus bionomics in ENC. Sixty traps were installed at a rate of 15 traps/site and 1 trap/tree. The traps were succeeded to catch 714 adults throughout the whole study period. The mean catches/trap recorded its highest value at Barrani site and the lowest at Marsa Matrouh. Throughout the whole study period, July month showed the highest capture. Seasonal fluctuation of T. griseus adults showed the peaked range from June till October. Although the present findings suggest the efficacy of the traps in mass-trapping of adult borer, we consider the need of further studies and insights to improve trap performance. All the studies will concur to demonstrate the mass-trapping effectiveness in the proposed fig IPM strategy. Finally, local growers, after short training period, enjoyed and disseminated among them how to manage the traps independently.
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