Fig spider mite

Systematic position: The fig spider mite (Eotetranychus fici) belongs to the class Arachnida, order Trombidiformes, and family Tetranychidae. It is recognized as a significant pest affecting fig orchards, particularly in arid and semi-arid environments where high temperatures promote rapid population growth.

Host plants: The primary host of Eotetranychus fici is the common fig (Ficus carica). While the mite demonstrates a strong preference for fig trees, under conditions of high population density, it can occasionally infest other species within the Ficus genus or surrounding ornamental plants, causing varying degrees of damage.

Biology and life cycle: The life cycle consists of egg, larva, protonymph, deutonymph, and adult stages. Development is highly sensitive to environmental factors, with optimal conditions (dry and hot weather) allowing for a complete generation in as little as 7 to 10 days. Females deposit eggs on the abaxial side of the leaves, where the mites establish their colonies under fine silken webbing.

Type of damage and economic impact: Feeding by Eotetranychus fici involves piercing plant cells and extracting sap, which manifests as stippling or chlorotic spotting on the leaves. As the infestation progresses, leaves become discolored, necrotic, and eventually abscise prematurely. Extensive webbing disrupts normal physiological functions, leading to significant yield loss, reduced fruit quality, and general decline in tree vigor.

Control measures: Management of the fig spider mite requires an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy focused on monitoring and timely intervention. Key strategies to mitigate damage include:

• Maintaining adequate irrigation to reduce environmental stress on the trees.
• Regular monitoring of leaf undersides to detect initial infestations.
• Application of selective acaricides when population thresholds are exceeded.
• Preservation of natural predators such as phytoseiid mites that feed on spider mites.
• Sanitation practices, including the removal of heavily infested leaves during the pruning season.