الفهرس 
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Abstract
Mites play an important role in the biogeochemical cycles of nature as well as in the agricultural cycles of organic matter. They are very important both in human and animal catering. This point has gained an extended attention for the last six decades and mites have won nearly the same fame of importance as insects have for this reason, it was necessary to shed light on mite species live on manure and dung-hills in animal production farms, because of their importance, as farmars are accustomed to use them as organic fertilizer that contain mite species, whether benficial or harmful..
When reviewing previous and current results focused on mite species pertaining to both orders Astigmata and Mesostigmata inhabiting animal sheds in both Egypt and abroad. It was cleared that, there were a lot of species pertaining to diverse groups of mites. So, the current work aimed to study the taxonomy, the ecology and economic importance of some mite species. In the present study, an accurate survey of mite species inhabiting animal sheds in Assiut and El-Fateh cities was done. The present study describes three new species, new to science, belonging to the families Acaridae Latreille, 1802 and Histiostomatidae Berlese, 1897.
Moreover, the present study was designed to explore the ecological trends of certain Astigmata and Mesostigmata mite species inhabiting animal sheds under various circumstances. However, the great numbers of species and their various morphological differences acquire more intensive and comprehensive research especially for the predacious ones. Therefore, the author intended to give some morphological and taxonomical treatises.
The present course of investigation had to be accomplished in the following four points:
1. Survey of mites inhabiting animal sheds in Assiut Governorate.
2. Morphology and taxonomy of mite species inhabiting animal sheds with description of three new species of the families: Acaridae Latreille, 1802 and Histiostomatidae Berlese, 1897.
3. Study the population dynamics of mites inhabiting animal sheds.
For the new species the author would like to stress that, the original descriptions of the acarid and histiostomatid mites were collected and all the drawings of detailed morphological features were examined, separate the previously known species from the new ones in the current study.
This work revealed the following results:
1. Ecological Studies:
1.1. General survey of mites:
The present survey of mite species inhabiting organic manure in different animal-sheds (i.e., buffalo, cow, sheep, goats), in both farms (the experimental farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University and the animal production farm of El-Fateh district), was studied. Data recorded 41 mite species pertaining to 20 genera of 12 families in three mite order (i.e., Mesostigmata, Astigmata, Trombidiformes). The Mesostigmata represented by 28 species (8 families); Astigmata (Acarididia), represented by 11 species (2 families) and Trombidiformes represented by two species belonging to two families. Both mite species of the families Macrochelidae Vithzthum, 1930, and Parasitidae Oudemans, 1901 were recorded in high densities. While scarce numbers of Tarsonemidae Canestrini & Fanzago, 1876, were observed. The annotated checklist reported 153 mite species belonging to 76 genera of 26 families.
1.2. Population fluctuation of mites inhabiting animal sheds:
The seasonal abundance of this mite species population expressed as monthly sum of individual numbers, average and percentages from the overall season numbers during the two inspected season (2018-2020), was studied.
1.2.1. Astigmata mites (Acarididia mites) (Acaridae and Histiostomatidae):
The highest population density of the Acarididia mites was recorded in April of the first year and in July of the second year, it might be observed that spring and summer season exhibited the highest population of Astigmata individuals, while autumn and winter seasons seemed to be unfavorable as recorded the lowest populations at Assiut city. While, in El-Fateh the highest population density of the Acarididia mites was recorded in July of the first year and in December of the second year, it might be observed that summer and winter seasons exhibited the highest population of Astigmata individuals, while spring and autumn seasons seemed to be unfavorable as recorded the lowest populations in El-Fateh area.
1.2.2. Mesostigmata mites:
The highest population density of Mesostigmata mites was recorded during summer and spring seasons. The peak number was found during July of the first year and August of the seconed year in Assiut city. While, in El-Fateh the highest population density of Mesostigmata was recorded during July of the first year and June of the second year. Whereas, winter was the least favourable season for Mesostigmata mites flourishing.
1.2.3. Cryptostigmata (Oribatei) mites:
The highest population density of the Cryptostigmata (Oribatei) mites was recorded during January of the first year and May of the seconed year in Assiut city. While, El-Fateh the highest population density of Cryptostigmata (Oribatei) was recorded during December of the first year and March of the second year. Whereas, spring and winter were the least favourable season for Cryptostigmata (Oribatei) mites flourishing.
1.2.4. Prostigmata mites:
The population density of Tarsonemina group was comparatively high during winter and spring, while summer and autumn seemed to be less suitable for the Prostigmata mite activity.
1.2.5. Relationship between four groups (Acarididia, Oribatei, Mesostigmata and Prostigmata mites) at the animal farm:
The density of the Mesostigmata mite species was increased during summer and autumn season, while winter and spring were inconvenient for this group of animal, the opposite was observed in the case of the Acarididia mites (Astigmata). This may be due to mite behavior and the dependence of the Mesostigmata mites upon Acarididia individuals as a source of food.
Statistical analysis of data showed significant and insignificant positive and negative correlations, viz., (r= +0.33, +0.76**, +0.82** and -0.14) between temperature and the population densities of mites of the four groups (Acarididia, Oribatei, Mesostigmata and Prostigmata), respectively. On the other hand, insignificant negative correlation was found between humidity and the numbers of Astigmata mites (r= -0.44), and again there was insignificant negative correlation for Mesostigmata (r= -0.79**) and significant positive correlation for Prostigmata (r= +0.58). Insignificant negative correlation was found between the numbers of Mesostigmata mites versus soil temp. 10 cm3 (depth), (r= +0.58), in Assiut city. While, in El-Fateh the results of the correlation between temperature, relative humidity and the population fluctuations of the four groups of mites, the statistical analysis of data showed significant and insignificant positive and negative correlations, viz., (r= +0.78**, -0.54, +0.05 and -0.79) between temperature and the population densities of mites of the four groups (Acarididia, Oribatei, Mesostigmata and Prostigmata), respectively. The results clearly indicate that, temperature and relative humidity are determining factors in all mite groups and may explain the seasonal dynamics of these mites as well as the inhibition of the off season in winter except for the Prostigmata one. On the other side, predatory mites species often prefer high humidity in the field to successfully complete their predation.
2. Taxonomical studies:
Of the total of mite fauna extracted from different localities, three new species belonging to the families: Acaridae Latreille, 1802 and Histiostomatidae Berlese, 1897 proved to be new to science, based on the morphological characteristist of the collected mite species.
- These species are:
a. Acotyledon shortisetoses Eraky et al. 2020a
b. Myianoetus assiuti Eraky et al. 2020a
c. Myianoetus manurei Eraky et al. 2020a