Current Situation of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) in Northern Africa: The Sustainable Control Methods and Priorities for Future Research

Abstract

In North Africa, Tetranychus urticae Koch, 1836 represents one of the most destructive generalists among mite herbivores. Unfortunately, it is a source of important annual casualties in crop production. It is a phytophagous mite that can feed on hundreds of host plants and produces significant damage. The control of T. urticae in North Africa has been principally based on acaricide sprays. However, new alternative methods have shown effective results, such as artificial ultraviolet-B, natural enemies, and the introduction of new genetic methods. This review aims to present a synthesis of information surrounding control methods of T. urticae in North Africa. We highlight the principal findings of previous studies. Then, we discuss current control methods and propose new innovative research and sustainable approaches to controlling this pest. The control method can potentially extrapolate in North African regions due to its positive ecological results. Further, studies proved the use of natural enemies, myco-metabolites, bacteria metabolites, and the introduction of a genetic method in an integrated long-term sustainable program that can successfully defeat the populations of T. urticae. We also discuss high-priority research guidelines to investigate new sustainable management strategies. Setting up an integrated long-term ecological monitoring program in different Northwest African countries and incorporating new technologies into monitoring programs is an urgent need to fight this devastating pest.

Evaluation of the Effect of Four Bioactive Compounds in Combination with Chemical Product against Two Spider Mites Tetranychus urticae and Eutetranychus orientalis(Acari: Tetranychidae)

“…Despite advantages such as rapid action in reducing the number of pests and their ease of use compared with natural plant extracts. [ 20 ], this strategy has many limitations; the examination of the action spectrum of the active components used throughout the world reveals that 46% of acaricides are globally toxic toward auxiliary arthropods and public health [ 1 , 28 ]. The extracts of plants are remarkably rich in toxins and inhibitors and can be the source of many insecticidal and acaricidal substances exploitable in the control of pests [ 29 , 30 ].…”

“…Spider mites including Tetranychus urticae (Koch) 1836 and Eutetranychus orientalis (Klein) 1936 are a major pest of citrus in many countries including Morocco [ 1 , 2 ]. These two pests cause considerable losses to citrus crops [ 3 , 4 ].…”

“…Their control is often provided by intensive and preventive chemical control [ 8 , 9 ]. In Morocco, the Acequinocyl, Abamectin, Malathion, Spirodiclofen, Bifenazate, Fenpyroximate, Fenazaquin, Tebufenpyrad, Propargite, Milbemectine, Bifenthrine, Dicofol, Clofentezine, Maltodextrine, and Pyridaben are the most acaricides employed to control spider mites including T. urticae and E. orientalis under greenhouses and field [ 1 , 10 ]. Despite advantages such as easy use, the decrease of pests numbers, and their immediate action when compared with natural extracts from plants [ 11 ].…”

Characterization of pyridaben resistance in Tetranychus urticae in Israel

“…Tetranychus urticae, commonly known as the two-spotted spider mite (TSSM), is a highly invasive, polyphagous plant parasitic mite that causes substantial economic losses to agricultural crops worldwide (Assouguem et al 2022;Jakubowska et al 2022). TSSM belongs to the family Tetranichidae, a tiny arachnid adult of about 0.4-0.5 mm in dorsal length (Li and Zhang 2018).…”

Alternative management of Tetranychus urticae with extract of the jatropha pie

“…The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, 1836 (Acari: Tetranychidae), is one of the most important mite species in the world, that causes diverse damages to cultures of economic interest, among them, the strawberry and papaya [1,2] . Due to the sucking habit of the mite, there are yellowish spots on the leaves that, can evolve to necrosis and drought of the whole leaf blade, depending on the degree of the infestation, reducing the photosynthetic rate, affecting its growth and reducing the number and weight of fruits [3,4] . Among the methods used to control mites in agriculture, chemical is the most usual [5] .…”