Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has issued an alert urging producers statewide to inspect pastures for the pasture mealybug (Helicococcus summervillei), a newly detected invasive pest confirmed in multiple Texas counties.
The pasture mealybug has never before been reported in North America and is already causing significant damage to pasture acreage across Texas. The Texas Department of Agriculture is working with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to coordinate a rapid response. The insect attacks forage grasses and causes pasture dieback, leaving expanding patches of yellowing, weakened and dead turf. First identified in Australia in 1928, the pest has destroyed millions of acres of grazing land there and has since spread globally, resulting in severe financial losses. Its rapid reproduction, soil-level feeding and wide host range make it particularly difficult to manage.
The estimated impact area currently includes Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, Refugio, Calhoun, Victoria, Goliad, DeWitt, Lavaca, Fayette, Jackson, Matagorda, Brazoria, Galveston, Wharton, Colorado, Austin, Washington, Burleson, Brazos and Robertson counties. AgriLife entomologists have submitted a Pest Incident Worksheet documenting significant damage to pastures and hayfields in Victoria County. Research trials are underway to determine effective integrated pest management strategies. At this time, there is no labeled insecticide known to effectively control the pasture mealybug.
Affected plants include bermudagrass, bahiagrass, johnsongrass, sorghum-sudangrass hybrids, St. Augustine grass, bluestem species and other tropical or subtropical grasses. Damage may occur to leaves, stems and roots.
Common symptoms include:
- Yellowing or discoloration of leaves within one week of infestation
- Purpling or reddening of foliage
- Stunted growth and drought stress despite adequate rainfall
- Poor root development
- Dieback beginning at leaf tips and progressing downward
- Premature aging, increasing vulnerability to disease
Inspection recommendations include:
- Regular scouting of grass leaves, stems, soil surface, leaf litter and areas beneath cow patties
- Focusing on unmanaged areas such as fence lines, ungrazed patches and roadsides
- Watching for white, waxy or fuzzy insects on grass blades and stems
Producers who observe symptoms or insects matching these descriptions are urged to contact the Texas Department of Agriculture at 1-800-TELL-TDA.
Additional information about the pasture mealybug is available HERE.
