POPULATION DENSITY OF SOIL MITES UNDER TEN VARIETIES OF MAIZE PLANTS AND RESPONSE OF THE RED SPIDER MITE Tetranychus urticae (KOCH) TO MAIZE VARIETIES .

Abstract

Field trials were carried out in maize fields through 2004 & 2005 seasons at Gemmeiza Agricultural Research Station . The correlation between mite population exiting in soil and on ten maize varieties was counted. Soil mites evaluation was done at three months while phytophagous mites Teranychus urticae ( Koch ) was counted weekly all over the growing seasons of maize .Data indicated that the mean numbers of any soil mites Actinedida, Oribatida, Gamasida and Acaridida were significantly differed according to different maize varieties.It was also recorded that all maize varieties were susceptible to mite T . urticae ( Koch ) with different degrees .