Recent reports of spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) from Serbia

Abstract: In a 11-year faunistic and taxonomic survey (2013-2023) carried out in Serbia, spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) have been collected in more than a thousand sampling locations throughout the country. In the survey, a total of 16 tetranychid species new to Serbian acarofauna have been recorded. Five newly recorded species (Eotetranychus aceri, E. fagi, E. fraxini, Oligonychus bicolor and Tetranychus canadensis) were found for the first time in the Balkans and two (Eotetranychus willamettei and Oligonychus perditus) in Europe. Among 10 new species, considered to be pests of economic plants, large populations and symptoms of damage have been observed on the hosts infested by Eutetranychus orientalis, Panonychus citri, Tetranychus ludeni and T. evansi. The records of these species are outside their typical biogeographic area, and can be explained by climate changes as well as international trade of plant materials.