Thrips parvispinus (Karny) is an invasive pest of vegetable and ornamentals in the United States. To support ornamental growers to control T. parvispinus infestations, we tested seven conventional (spinosad, chlorfenapyr, sulfoxaflor–spinetoram, pyridalyl, tolfenpyrad, abamectin, and cyclaniliprole–flonicamid) and two biorational insecticides (mineral oil and sesame oil) under greenhouse conditions on mandevilla (Mandevilla splendens) and gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides), primary T. parvispinus ornamental hosts. Two insecticide applications were performed: a curative, treating an existing infestation, and a prophylactic, treating a plant prior to the thrips release. In the curative application, ten larvae and ten adults were released two weeks prior to treatment. Three leaves from the upper, middle, and lower canopy were collected 24 h, 7-, and 14-days post-treatment to assess thrips mortality. In the prophylactic application, plants were first sprayed with insecticides, and thrips were introduced 24 h later, but followed the same sampling method. In mandevilla, chlorfenapyr, abamectin, and spinosad caused the highest thrips mortality in both application types. Among horticultural oils, mineral oil and sesame oil increased mortality in prophylactic applications only. In gardenia, neither curative nor prophylactic applications of these products led to significant thrips mortality, and the possible reasons and recommendations for best thrips management are presented.

In the last century, biological invasions have increased greatly due to the intensification in international trade and world climate change, thus representing one of the most relevant issues for agricultural productivity and biodiversity. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States, from 2019 to 2021, intercepted different species from Italy belonging to the Orders Ixodida, Sarcoptiformes and Trombidiformes. The study reported four new records and several new host plant associations. In this framework, the inspection system not only plays a relevant role in the plant protection, human and animal health, but also contributes to the knowledge of the Acari fauna from exporting countries.

Acalitus simplex is an eriophyoid mite pest of the ornamental plant Ruellia simplex. Acalitus simplex compromises the esthetics of R. simplex by inducing erinea formation. Management practices for A. simplex are currently lacking. This study assessed the potential of commercial biorational (citric acid, potassium salt of fatty acids, garlic, thyme, and mineral oil) and conventional (abamectin, fenpyroximate, bifenthrin, spiromesifen) pesticides under laboratory conditions, using two types of spray applications: (A) curative, after erinea formation, and (B) prophylactic, before erinea formation. In the curative application, abamectin, garlic oil, and mineral oil were most effective; in the prophylactic application, abamectin and mineral oil showed the highest efficacies. Abamectin and mineral oil were further tested under greenhouse conditions. Both treatments effectively controlled A. simplex by preventing erinea formation over a four-week post-application period, regardless of the application type. At the end of the experiment, mites were extracted from R. simplex plants. In the curative application, significantly fewer mites were extracted from abamectin and mineral oil treatments than in the control. In the prophylactic application, mites were absent in abamectin and mineral oil treatments but present in the control. Abamectin and mineral oil can be used to manage A. simplex in landscapes.

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa subsp. sativa L.) is an emerging crop in Florida, generating $445 million in 2024. However, it is highly susceptible to acarine pests, including spider mites (Tetranychidae), broad mites (Tarsonemidae), and russet mites (Eriophyidae). Management options are limited due to a few federally registered products approved by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS-DPI). Laboratory bioassays were conducted on hemp leaf discs infested with Tetranychus urticae, T. gloveri, Polyphagotarsonemus latus, or Aculops cannabicola, and treated with biorational pesticides (citric acid, rosemary, thyme, sesame, garlic, and mineral oil) at maximum label rates. Citric acid and garlic oil were most efficacious against T. urticae, while garlic and thyme oils were most efficacious against the other species, causing over 80% mortality. Greenhouse trials confirmed the efficacy of citric acid and garlic oil against T. urticae, achieving 60–80% mortality within 24 h. Predatory mites (Amblyseius swirskii, A. andersoni, Neoseiulus californicus, Galendromus occidentalis) were evaluated against A. cannabicola, with A. swirskii showing the highest predation (≈20 adults/24 h) and reproduction. Compatibility tests indicated thyme and garlic oils did not significantly affect A. swirskii survival (>70% alive after 24 h). These findings support integrated pest management strategies for hemp acarine pests.

Cenopalpus officinalis Papaioannou-Souliotis, 1986 (Trombidiformes: Tetranychoidea: Tenuipalpidae) is reported for the first time from Israel, Italy and Mexico. Previously, this flat mite species was only known to occur in Greece and is the first species belonging to the genus Cenopalpus recorded from Mexico. Adult females and males, deutonymphs and eggs, collected in Italy and Israel as well as the material intercepted from Italy and Mexico at United States ports of entry were studied, illustrated and analyzed.