The National Plant Protection Organization of the Netherlands has reported the first official finding of Tetranychus mexicanus in the Netherlands on 11 October 2018. The origin of the finding is probably Central America. The organism is not listed as a harmful organism in EU directive 2000/29/EC and is not listed on the EPPO lists. The pest was found as part of the official post-import surveillance programme. Approximately 25 plants of Beaucarnea recurvata were severely affected. Bleaching of the green leaves of the Beaucarnea recurvata pot plants was caused by emptying cells by the spider mite.
The plants are located at a retail company together in a greenhouse with other tropical plants, which were not affected. Approximately 770 Beaucarnea recurvata plants were present. Official measures, including chemical treatment of the affected lot, will be taken to eradicate the pest. These measures are based on a preliminary risk analysis.