Mealybug Could Cost US Agriculture Industry Money
Texas agriculture officials are sounding the alarm after confirming that a fast-spreading insect, never before seen in North America, is now threatening ranches and farms across more than 20 counties. The pest, called…
Texas agriculture officials are sounding the alarm after confirming that a fast-spreading insect, never before seen in North America, is now threatening ranches and farms across more than 20 counties. The pest, called Helicococcus summervillei—better known as the pasture mealybug—is damaging pasturelands that livestock producers depend on for hay and grazing.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller issued an alert this week, calling the pest a serious concern for the state’s agriculture industry. “This is a completely new pest to our continent, and Texas is once again on the front lines,” Miller said. “If the pasture mealybug spreads across Texas grazing lands like it has in eastern Australia, it could cost Texas agriculture dearly in lost productivity and reduced livestock capacity.”
The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is working with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to track how far the pest has spread and to figure out what can be done to stop it.
According to Texas A&M experts, the pasture mealybug was first found in Australia in 1928. It’s known to cause a condition called “pasture dieback,” where grass begins to yellow, thin out, and eventually die. The insect feeds close to the roots, often beneath the soil and plant debris, making it hard to notice right away. Once the damage starts, fields can be lost quickly, and regrowth becomes difficult.
The insect is suspected to have been in Texas as early as 2022, but only now has it reached a level where large areas are being affected. So far, officials have confirmed infestations in 20 counties: Brazoria, Galveston, Wharton, Matagorda, Colorado, Austin, Washington, Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, Refugio, Calhoun, Victoria, Goliad, Dewitt, Lavaca, Fayette, Jackson, Burleson, Brazos, and Robertson.
Victoria County has reported the most severe losses, with ranchers already seeing fields of grass turning yellow, red, or purple in patches—signs that the insect may be feeding underneath. Grasses especially vulnerable include Bermudagrass, Bahia, Johnsongrass, St. Augustine, bluestem, and other varieties commonly used for grazing and hay production.
Farmers and ranchers are being told to look out for fuzzy white clusters near the soil line or on the lower parts of plants. Other signs include stunted growth even with enough rain, weakened roots, and areas where grass is dying without an obvious reason.
At this time, there are no approved insecticides in the U.S. labeled for this pest, leaving officials and landowners with limited options. That’s why state and federal officials are asking anyone who spots the bug or notices suspicious damage to report it as soon as possible.
The TDA has set up a hotline for reports at 1-800-TELL-TDA. Commissioner Miller said that early reporting from landowners is the best chance Texas has to stop the pest from causing widespread damage. “We need every producer’s eyes on the ground,” he said.
The USDA, TDA, and Texas A&M AgriLife will continue to study the bug, gather data, and work on possible control strategies. In the meantime, farmers and ranchers are encouraged to stay alert and report problems quickly.
With no chemical treatments currently available, stopping the spread early could be key to protecting Texas’s multi-billion-dollar hay and livestock industry.