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Mohamed Biche

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (3): 0495-0514

    Mohammed Biche, Khaoula Aroua, Nesrine Medani, Rachida Belguendouz, Lalia Boukhobza, Insaf Zaabta, Kaci Zakia, Lydia Dahmani, Cansu Ercan, Denis Achiri Tange, Mehmet Bora Kaydan & Abderahmane Chebli
    The armored scales (Homoptera Diaspididae) of Algeria
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.3.495.514

    ABSTRACT
    Diaspididae (Hemiptera Coccomorpha) is one of the largest and most diverse family of scale insects and it contains many agricultural parasites worldwide. The study collected data from those previously reported in the literature over the period of 123 years. The inventory includes armored scales collected from field samples in several regions of Algeria as well as from a bibliographic survey. A critical review of the literature on armored scales in Algeria revealed the presence of 114 species, with mainly a palearctic distribution belonging to 48 genera distributed in four tribes. The Diaspidini tribe is the most abundant (50 species, 24 genera), followed by the Aspidiotini (47 species, 18 genera) and the Parlatorini (13 species, 4 genera) and finally the Odonaspidini (2 genera, 2 species). According to our survey, conducted between 1987 and 2020, 79 species were recorded, belonging to 37 genera distributed in four tribes. Compared to the Maghreb countries, Algeria has a significant coccidological richness in relation to the total number of species.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (2): 0417-0426

    Yasmina Agagna, Khadidja Boudjemaa, Narimene Oussalah, Ibtissem Beloued, Khaoula Aroua & Mohamed Biche
    Ecological relationship between Lepidosaphes beckii (Newman, 1869) (Homoptera Diaspididae) and its two parasitoids Aphytis melinus DeBach, 1959 and A. lepidosaphes Compere, 1955 (Hymenoptera Aphelinidae) on lemons orchads in two localities of Mitidja Algeria
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.2.417.426

    ABSTRACT
    The study purpose is to understand the behavior of two hymenoptera parasitoids from Aphytis genus, Aphytis melinus DeBach, 1959 and A. lepidosaphes Compere, 1955, against armored scale host, Lepidosaphes beckii (Newman, 1869), in two lemon trees orchards of two localities: Heuraoua and Rouïba. The scale insect (L. beckii) develops 3 generations per year in Rouïba locality and 4 generations per year in Heuraoua locality. However, the parasitoid incidence of the two parasitoids species (A. melinus and A. lepidosaphes) are different between the two localities, according to the seasons and the plant organ. Indeed, the parasitism rate of A. lepidosaphes is higher in Rouïba than Heuraoua. Whereas, A. melinus activity is very important in Heuraoua and completely absent in Rouïba. Moreover, we noticed an important activity of A. lepidosaphes during the autumn and winter period, on branches while A. melinus is more active during summer period on scale populations attached to leaves. The comparative study of the morphometric measurements of L. beckii female parasitized covers between both localities demonstrate a positive relationship between the measurements of female covers and the parasitism rate recorded in these regions.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 12 (1): 0261-0264

    Kaddouri Mohamed Amine, Slimani Sabrina, Dahmani Lydia, Kaci Zakia, Aroua Khaoula, Chebli Abderahmane & Biche Mohamed
    Abundance fluctuation of Spirura rytipleurites seurati Chabaud, 1954 (Nematoda Spiruridae) parasite of Desert Hedgehog Hemiechinus aethiopicus (Ehrenberg, 1833) (Insectivora Erinaceidae) in the Region of Merigha (Laghouat, Algeria)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2021.12.1.261.264

    ABSTRACT
    The study has been undertaken for three consecutive years on the diet of the desert hedgehog Hemiechinus aethiopicus (Ehrenberg, 1833) (Insectivora Erinaceidae) in Merigha (Laghouat). It highlighted a great abundance of a parasitic nematode of the digestive tube: Spirura rytipleurites seurati Chabaud, 1954. The helminths are sparsely abundant in the droppings in April; while their numbers increase until June-July, then decrease drastically in August. They increase again and reach a second abundance peak in October. The droppings infestation rate varies in the same way, where these variations are interpreted in relation to the parasite cycle and to the variations of the hedgehog diet’s composition.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 11 (4): 1007-1014

    Abderrahmane Chebli, Bahia Doumandji-Mitiche, Salaheddine Doumandji, Mohamed Biche & Timothy A. Mousseau
    Overview of the arthropod fauna in the extreme southeastern Algeria: species richness in Tassili N’Ajjer National Park (Djanet, Algeria)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2020.11.4.1007.1014

    ABSTRACT
    The present study concerns arthropod populations in two different environments, cultivated and natural regions of Djanet. We conducted qualitative and quantitative surveys over two seasons (summer and winter). Three sampling methods were used: pitfall traps, sweep nets, and yellow pan traps. Overall, 4480 individual arthropods were captured representing 191 species, 4 classes, 21 orders and 106 families, distributed across four study sites, namely: Lokmane and El Mihane stations for the cultivated environment and Teghargharte and Iffoutten stations for the natural environment. A total of 112 species of arthropod species were captured by pitfall traps, with Hymenoptera accounting for 69% of the species. Sweep netting generated 65 species of arthropods, with Orthoptera accounting for 36% of the captures. Yellow pan traps led to the capture of 82 species of arthropods, with dipterans most attracted by this type of trap with a rate of 38%. The 17 species of Orthoptera that we captured in the region of Djanet belonged to 7 families and 2 orders, in which the species Tridactylus variegatus was the most abundant.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 11 (4): 0845-0852

    Lalia Boukhobza, Insaf Zaabta, Rachida Belguendouz, Fateh Mimeche & Mohamed Biche
    Role of hymenopterous parasits Aphelinidae in the regulation of levels of Lepidosaphes beckii (Newton, 1869) (Homoptera Diaspididae) populations on orange trees in Rouiba area (Algeria)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2020.11.4.845.852

    ABSTRACT
    This present study put in evidence the dynamics of the populations of Lepidosaphes beckii (Newton, 1869) (Homoptera Diaspididae), and the study of the impact of its hymenopterous parasites Aphytis lepidosaphes Compere, 1955, Aphytis chrysomphali Mercet, 1912, Aphytis proclia Walker, 1839 and Aspidiotiphagus citrinus (Craw, 1831) on orange tree in the area of Rouiba. This diaspine develops three generations: one in autumn-winter, one in spring and one in summer. This scale insect presents a very marked affinity in the middle of the tree and the inferior faces of the leaves where the suitable conditions for its development seems to be offered. The natural mortality of L. beckii is of two types: climatic for young stages and physiological for the adult females. The parasitic incidence is almost the same for the young stages and the adult with respectively 22.24% and 23.89%. The global rate of parasitism is 23.24% insufficient to control its host.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 11 (1): 035-040

    Insaf Zaabta, Lalia Boukhobza, Fateh Mimeche & Mohamed Biche
    Role of Aphytis lepidosaphes Compere, 1955 (Hymenoptera Aphelinidae) in limiting Lepidosaphes beckii (Newman, 1869) (Homoptera Diaspididae) populations in an orange orchard in Rouiba (Algeria)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2020.11.1.35.40

    ABSTRACT
    This work highlights the study of Lepidosaphes beckii (Newman, 1869) (Homoptera Diaspididae) population dynamics as well as the impact of its external parasite Aphytis lepidosaphes Compere, 1955 (Hymenoptera Aphelinidae) in an orange orchard in Rouiba (Algeria). A year period study shows that L. beckii has three generations per year: the first is the autumnal generation; the second is through the spring and the third throughout summer. Moreover, this cochineal presents a very strong affinity for the central part of the trees and the lower side of the tree leaves which offers optimal conditions for its development. Aphytis lepidosaphes also develops three generations per year: in autumn, spring and summer, matching perfectly the three generations of its host. The parasite can be found where its host is abundant (plentiful). The global parasitism rate records is 22.54% for L. beckii, this rate remains weak to control the cochineal populations.