Spider mites (Tetranychoidea) pests of greenhouses

Mites are among the most important arthropods in greenhouses, both as pests causing economic injury to greenhouse crops and natural enemies used in the biological control of pest insects and mites in greenhouses. Spider mites (Tetranychidae) are among the most important pests on many greenhouse plants. False spider mites (Tenuipalpidae, which are related to spider mites, sometimes also become pests on greenhouse plants, especially ornamentals. Several species of tarsonemids (Tarsonemidae) and eriophyoid mites (Eriophyidae) injure both, vegetable crops and ornamental plants. Acarid mites (Acaridae) of the genus Rhyzoglyphus damages the bulbs of flowers. Most important pests among them Tetranychus urticae (Koch), Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval), Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks), Phytonemus pallidus (Banks), Aculops lycopersici (Tryon) and Rhyzoglyphus spp. are distributed in Serbia too. In this paper, besides the most important pests among spider mites sensu lato (Tetranychoidea) and their control, especially by biological methods, other species distributed in greenhouses all over the world, but not yet in Serbia are also emphasized. Among them, the most important is an invasive spider mite species of South American origin Tetranychus evansi Baker and Pritchard. This species was recorded in Europe at the beginning of the last decade and is considered as damaging pest of tomatoes and other solanaceous crops.