The problem of taxonomic uncertainty in biosecurity: South African mite interceptions as an example

Abstract

International trade continues increase, with agricultural trade being a major pathway for transport and introduction of pests to new regions. We use South Africa’s interception records to highlight particular challenges related to mites detected on agricultural plants and fresh produce. These challenges include interception of damaged or immature specimens, lack of local and global taxonomic specialists, uncertainties in understudied taxa, lack of availability or access to reference material, and difficulties with international collaborations. As an example, we present a particularly notable case of a Brevipalpus interception which took sixteen years to positively identify. This mite was intercepted 54 times (2007-2023) on European kiwifruit imported to South Africa. The first interceptions were from Italy in 2007, then in 2010 from Greece, and in 2015 from France. Despite repeated interceptions, various challenges hampered our ability to identify the species, until in 2023 it was eventually identified as Brevipalpus garmani Baker. We discuss the implications of this and other interceptions for biosecurity in agricultural trade.