New Records of Tetranychidae (Prostigmata) in avocado crops in Crete, Greece

Summary In April 2024, infestation was recorded on leaves of avocado trees, bearing brown necrotic spots on the upper surface of the leaves and/or whitish, almost circular spots on the underside, in Zounaki, Crete, Greece. In September of the same year, infestation of different symptomatology was observed, consisting of a bronze tone at the upper surface of the leaves, in an avocado orchard in Ayia village, Crete. A microscopic examination of infested leaves revealed the presence of mites which were identified as Oligonychus ( Olygonychus ) perseae Tuttle, Baker and Abbatiello and Oligonychus ( Olygonychus ) punicae (Hirst) (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) which are both first recorded in Greece. By autumn of 2024, the persea mite rapidly spread across nearly all regions where avocados are cultivated in the western and coastal part of Crete. Up to date, nearly one year after the first detection of these mite species, infestations of O. ( O. ) perseae remains below economic thresholds, whereas O. ( O. ) punicae is found in a few orchards and in limited populations (end of 2025).