Key Plant Pests in Palestine and Middle East Region

Abstract

The Middle East’s arid and semi-arid agricultural systems face significant economic threats from arthropod pests, including insects and acarine (mite) species. This document provides a taxonomically organized overview of the region’s most damaging insect pests—such as the Sunn pest (Eurygaster integriceps), Red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus), Tomato leafminer (Tuta absoluta), and cotton whitefly (Bemisia tabaci)—alongside major acarine pests, including the date palm dust mite (Oligonychus afrasiaticus), wheat curl mite (Aceria tosichella), and two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae). Emphasizing integrated pest management (IPM), the text highlights cultural, biological (parasitoids, predatory mites such as Phytoseiidae, entomopathogenic fungi), monitoring (pheromone traps), and selective chemical control strategies. Special attention is given to climate-adapted management, resistance challenges, invasive species, and the conservation of beneficial mites to reduce reliance on broad-spectrum pesticides and ensure sustainable crop production across staple cereals, date palms, citrus, and vegetables.