First report of Eotetranychus lewisi in the Netherlands
Eotetranychus lewisi (Acari: Tetranychidae - EU Annexes) was recently found in the Netherlands. The spider mite was found infesting mother plants and potted plants of poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) in greenhouses of a breeding company in the province Noord-Holland in August 2021, as well as in a greenhouse of a nursery producing potted plants in the province Gelderland in early September 2021. In the breeding company, two infested lots (in total 400 mother plants) were heavily infested. The nursery had received cuttings from these mother plants. As a result, 360 potted plants were infested.
The infested plants have been destroyed. All Euphorbia pulcherrima plants have been treated with acaricides and were not allowed to be moved out of the premises. Trace back and trace forward activities are conducted to identify the origin of the outbreak and avoid further spread of the pest.
The pest status of Eotetranychus lewisi in the Netherlands is officially declared as: Transient, actionable, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of the Netherlands (2021-09). https://english.nvwa.nl/topics/pest-reporting/documents/plant/plant-health/pest-reporting/documents/pest-report-eotetranychus-lewisi-september-2021