First report of Tetranychus mexicanus in the Netherlands
The NPPO of the Netherlands recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first official finding of Tetranychus mexicanus (Acari: Tetranychidae). The mite was found on the 11th of October 2018 at a retail company in a greenhouse on pot plants of Beaucarnea recurvata together with other tropical plants, which were not infested. Approximately 25 plants of B. recurvata were severely infested. The mite empties cells while feeding, which causes a bleaching of the plant green leaves. Official measures, including chemical treatment of the affected lot (770 B. recurvata plants), will be taken to eradicate the pest. These measures are based on a preliminary risk analysis. Trace-back studies are ongoing to identify the source of the outbreak, but the plants have probably been imported from Central America.
T. mexicanus has a neotropical distribution (from Argentina to Mexico). It is polyphagous, with host records for about 100 plant species belonging to 44 plant families. This is the first record for Beaucarnea and the family Asparagaceae. T. mexicanus is considered as a pest of citrus and Annona muricata in Brazil, of passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) and to a minor extent of Citrus latifolia in Venezuela, and of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) in Cuba. T. mexicanus is a quarantine pest in several countries including Taiwan and Japan. The Dutch NPPO conducted a a preliminary risk analysis (quick scan) on T. mexicanus which concluded that this species could be a potential pest of glasshouse crops in the European Union territory, and possibly a pest of outdoor crops (including citrus) in Southern EU Member States.
The pest status of Tetranychus mexicanus in the Netherlands is officially declared as: Transient, actionable, under eradication
Sources
NPPO of the Netherlands (2018-11).
Pest report. First outbreak of Tetranychus mexicanus (spider mite) on ornamental plants of Beaucarnea recurvata in a professional greenhouse. https://english.nvwa.nl/binaries/nvwa-en/documents/plant/plant-health/pest-reporting/documents/pest-report---first-outbreak-of-tetranychus-mexicanus-on-ornamental-plants-of-beaucarnea-recurvata-in-a-professional-greenhouse/pest-report-first-outbreak-of-tetranychus-mexicanus-on-ornamental-plants-of-beaucarnea-recurvata-professional-greenhouse.pdf
Quick scan number: QS-ENT-2018-007 Tetranychus mexicanus: https://english.nvwa.nl/topics/pest-risk-analysis/documents/plant/plant-health/pest-risk-analysis/documents/pest-risk-analysis-tetranychus-mexicanus-quick-scan