Tetranychus urticae Koch 1836

Zriki, G., Shaabo, A. & Boubou, A., 2015, A preliminary survey of the spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) in Latakia governorate of Syria, Acarologia 55 (3), pp. 303-309 : 306-307

Tetranychus urticae Koch 1836

The two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae , an ubiquitous species, is considered as one of the main phytophagous mites (Helle and Sabelis 1985). This species is the most polyphagous species of spider mites and the most economically injurious. It attacks around 1,094 plant species in 109 countries around the world. Among the 19 most important agricultural crops in the world, six (citrus, cotton, grapes, apples, beans, and papaya) were reported as being hosts of the two-spotted spider mite ( Yaninek and Moraes 1991; Marˇci´c et al. 2009).

Specimens examined — 10 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae), Latakia city (35°31’16.33"N, 35°48’26.72"E), 27-IX-2011 ; 10 ♀♀ and 6 ♂♂ on R. communis, Al Olaemeea (35°38’3.40"N, 35°49’52.67"E), 5-X-2011; 10 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on S. nigrum (Solanaceae), Qanjaraa (35°34’34.15"N, 35°49’4.97"E), 30-IX-2011 ; 10 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on S. nigrum, Janata (35°35’5.57"N, 35°50’3.18"E), 14-X-2011; 10 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on S. melongena, Al Bassa (35°29’55.60"N, 35°50’43.28"E), 20- X-2011; 8 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on S. melongena, Al Qanjara (35°34’55.41"N, 35°48’43.91"E), 7-XI-2011; 10 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on Ipomoea sp. (Convolvulaceae), Al Qanjaraa (35°34’45.68"N, 35°48’27.42"E), 30-IX- 2011 ; 10 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on Morus alba (Moraceae), Al Qanjaraa (35°34’44.73"N, 35°48’23.63"E), 30-IX- 2011 ; 10 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on M. alba, Wadi Qandil (35°42’36.78"N, 35°52’47.97"E), 5-X-2011; 10 ♀♀ and 6 ♂♂ on Amaranthus retroflexus (Amaranthaceae), Al Herajia (35°44’17.81"N, 35°52’59.79"E), 5-X-2011 ; 10 ♀♀ and 6 ♂♂ on A. retroflexus, Al Brazeen (35°15’12.33"N, 36°01’21.36"E), 22-VII-2012; 8 ♀♀ and 10 ♂♂ on T. terrestis (Zygophyllaceae), Latakia city (35°30’54.19"N, 35°46’17.89"E), 8-X-2011 ; 8 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on S. lycopersicum (Solanaceae), Al Rahbea (35°16’50.38"N, 35°59’13.08"E), 10-X-2011 ; 10 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on S. lycopersicum , Latakia Janata (35°34’58.51"N, 35°49’48.25"E), 14-X-2011 ; 10 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on S. lycopersicum, Beshraghe (35°17’58.54"N, 36°5’50.49"E), 5-VI-2012; 8 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on Ziziphus jujuba (Rhamnaceae), Al Mzeraa (35°29’26.57"N, 35°53’32.26"E), 11-X-2011 ; 8 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on Prunus persica (Rosaceae), Al Qanjara (35°34’51.68"N, 35°48’45.02"E), 13-X- 2011 ; 10 ♀♀ and 10 ♂♂ on Prunus armeniaca , Latakia city (35°31’37.68"N, 35°47’29.55"E), 19-X- 2011 ; 10 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on Urtica sp. (Ur- ticaceae) Janata (35°35’2.35"N, 35°50’7.26"E), 14-X- 2011 ; 10 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on Urtica sp. , Al Herajea (35°44’22.77"N, 35°52’58.05"E), 15-X-2011 ; 10 ♀♀ and 7 ♂♂ on Polygonum convolvulus (Polygonaceae), Janata (35°34’45.97"N, 35°49’38.11"E), 14-X-2011 ; 10 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on Cucumis sativus (Cucurbitaceae), Al Berjan (35°17’42.09"N, 35°58’56.37"E), 17-X-2011 ; 10 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on Chenopodium album (Chenopodiaceae), Latakia city (35°31’28.92"N, 35°47’44.14"E), 19-X-2011 ; 8 ♀♀ and 6 ♂♂ on Malva sp. (Malvaceae), Al Shamea (35°38’6.34"N, 35°48’17.74"E), 6- IV-2012 ; 8 ♀♀ and 6 ♂♂ on Malva sp , Al Hanadi (35°29’47.37"N, 35°51’56.74"E), 7-IV-2012 ; 10 ♀♀ and 5 ♂♂ on Melilotus sp. (Leguminosae), Al Bassa (35°29’55.91"N, 35°50’32.71"E), 23-IV-2012 ; 8 ♀♀ and 7 ♂♂ on Sonchus oleraceus (Asteraceae), Latakia city (35°31’31.95"N, 35°47’27.30"E), 24-X-2012 ; 10 ♀♀ and 8 ♂♂ on P. vulgaris (Leguminosae) , Hai Alarabi (35°30’29.74"N, 35°49’5.54"E), 17-VI-2012 .

Remarks — Tetranychus urticae has a world distribution (109 countries around the world) and was reported before this study from many countries neighboring Syria ( Migeon and Dorkeld 2006 -2013). In Syria, this species is a key pest in horticultural crops (outdoors and greenhouses). In this study, it was the dominant species and was found in all sites considered. Two forms of this species can be recognized by their green or red body color ( Auger et al. 2013), the red form is dominant in our region and in addition, these two forms of that species were found together in the same population.