Tiny Trouble, Unknown Risk: International Interceptions Highlight Cross-Border Movement and Biosecurity Threat of Cenopalpus (Acari: Tenuipalpidae)

Abstract

Mite species of the genus Cenopalpus are phytophagous pests associated with fruit and ornamental crops. Although the genus is primarily distributed in the Palearctic region, increasing international trade of plant material has created repeated opportunities for its unintentional transport across borders. To support improved awareness of emerging biosecurity risks, international quarantine interception records were analyzed from Australia, Laos, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, and the United States of America. A total of 98 interceptions were documented between 1981 and 2024, exclusively reported by New Zealand, South Africa, and the USA, while no Cenopalpus spp. mites were intercepted in Australia, Laos, Malaysia, or Singapore. Six species were identified, with Cenopalpus pulcher being the most frequently detected, followed by C. lanceolatisetae and C. officinalis. Interceptions were primarily associated with fruit crops, particularly apples and stone fruits, frequently with origins in Europe and the Middle East. Several records represent the first detection of Cenopalpus in trade originating from countries within Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania. Taxonomic uncertainty associated with Cenopalpus mites likely limits accurate identification in interception records, highlighting the need for improved diagnostic expertise. The implications of these findings for plant biosecurity programs, including surveillance and diagnostic priorities, are discussed.