INFLUENCE OF FOOD ON DEVELOPMENT AND REPRODUCTION OF HYPOASPIS-SOLIMANI N-SP (ACARI, LAELAPIDAE)

Hypoaspis solimani n. sp. was collected from compost from the farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt. Morphologic al characters of the different stages are described, illustrated and a key to the Egyptian species of Hypoaspis presented. H. solimani sp. n . was successfully reared on larvae of house fly, Musca domestica L. a nd vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster Morgan, and the two soil fungi , Macrophomina phaseoli and Fusarium oxysporum. The two kinds of prey proved to be the favoured diet, accelerating development and increasin g female longevity and fecundity.