Activity of the two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Koch) (Acari) infesting cucumber plants in upper Egypt

Seasonal abundance of the two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Koch) (Acari) infesting cucumber plants in Upper Egypt was studied during three seasons of 2014, 2015 and 2016 in Assiut Governorate. The obtained results showed that the spider mite, T. urtica population during spring plantations fluctuated in relatively high densities during whole season with a peak during the middle of May when the plant age was 43 day-old and the presence of an average level of temperature and relative humidity. In addition, the data indicated that the number of predators was not significantly correlated with pest populations during the spring plantations of 2015 and 2016 seasons, probably because of the lowest numbers of predators recorded in the studied area. The present study showed that the cucumber plants severely affected by the two spotted spider mite, T. urticae. In addition to the scarce numbers of predators recorded during spring and/or summer plantations.