Overview
- Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller urged producers to inspect pastures after detections of a pasture mealybug never before reported in North America.
- Confirmations span roughly 20 counties in South and Southeast Texas, including the Houston area from Cameron and Hidalgo to Brazos and Robertson.
- The pest causes pasture dieback in forage grasses, producing spreading patches of yellowing, weakened, then dead turf.
- TDA is coordinating with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and USDA APHIS on surveillance, containment planning, and research trials.
- Producers are advised to look for fluffy white insects on leaves, stems, soil, and under cow droppings, especially in unmanaged areas such as fence lines.