This study was conducted in Latakia, Syria to identify the insect species that causes the rolling and abnormal growth of young leaves of bay laurel, Laurus nobilis. The insect species was identified as the bay sucker Trioza alacris. Short notes on the symptoms and nature of damage caused by this pest are provided in this study.

In Syria, defoliation was noted on several Jasminum grandiflorum and Jasminum sambac plants in various gardens in Latakia City and countryside in 2017. Subsequently, several male and female specimens of a lacebug insect were collected from the white jasmine, Jasminum grandiflorum, planted in the garden of the Latakia Center for Agricultural Research during 2018. Collected material was examined and identified as Corythauma ayyari (Drake). Infestation by this insect is considered by the authors to cause the defoliation of jasmine plants in Latakia City and it is reported to occur in Syria for the first time.

Study of morphological characters of Tetranychus macfarlanei Baker & Pritchard and Tetranychus malaysiensis Ehara revealed high similarity by comparing all the important characters in addition to the characters pointed out by Ehara to separate those two species. Molecular phylogeny of seven Indian populations of T. macfarlanei and one population of T. malaysiensis from Philippines along with few distantly related species of Tetranychus was attempted. High degree of similarity between these two species at mitochondrial COI gene (96%) as well as ITS2 (rDNA) (96–99%) region was evident. Based on both morphological features and molecular data, T. malaysiensis is proposed as a junior synonym of T. macfarlanei based on ICZN’s law of priority. Also more female characters are prompted in this study to distinctly discriminate T. macfarlanei from its most resembling species, Tetranychus ludeni Zacher. Tetranychus macfarlanei has emerged as a pest of several cultivated crop plants in India.

Sixteen species of Tetranychoidea, 11 Tetranychidae and 5 Tenuipalpidae are reported in this study. Seven of them are recorded for the first time from Syria: Bryobia gigas, Oligonychus afrasiaticus, O. coniferarum, O. pratensis, Cenopalpus rubusi, Tenuipalpus cupressoides and T. punicae. New host plant records are also reported. Reinstatement of the genus Nuciforaella Vacante is discussed in this study. Detailed descriptions of immature stages and female of Nuciforaella nikitensis are given. A key to the known species of the family Tetranychidae from Syria is provided.

Two species of Tetranychidae (Acari), Oligonychus neotylus sp. nov. from Zea mays and Pennisetum purpureum (Poaceae) and Tetranychus hirsutus sp. nov. from Gymnema sylvestre R. Br. (Apocynaceae) are described from Karnataka state, south India. Tetranychus bambusae Wang and Ma is recorded for the first time from India and re-described. Four other species are reported for the first time from India viz., Oligonychus coniferarum (McGregor), Oligonychus duncombei Meyer, Tetranychus marianae McGregor and Tetranychus okinawanus Ehara from Cupressus sp., an undetermined grass, Centrosema pubescens and Adenium obesum, respectively.