Texas Agriculture Issues Urgent Alert As Invasive Pest Detected In Multiple Counties, Including Houston Area
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller issued an urgent alert this week to producers across the state to inspect their pastures for a newly detected and highly damaging pest.
The pest has been identified as the pasture mealybug (Helicococcus summervillei), an invasive species, which has been confirmed in multiple Texas counties. Its presence has already caused significant damage to pasture acreage across the Lone Star State, Miller said.
The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) said it is working closely with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to coordinate a rapid response and protect Texas producers.
Pasture Mealybugs impact
The pasture mealybug is a serious pest of forage grasses that causes “pasture dieback,” leaving expanding patches of yellowing, weakened, and ultimately dead turf, according to the release.
It was first discovered in Australia in 1928 after devastating millions of acres of grazing land there. The species has since spread globally, causing severe financial impacts.
Not only are they damaging to land, but the rapid reproduction, hidden soil-level feeding, and broad host range also make it a significant threat to pasture health and livestock operations.
“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. TDA is working hand-in-hand with federal and university partners to respond swiftly and protect our producers from this unprecedented threat.”
The estimated impact area currently covers 20 counties, which include the following: Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, Refugio, Calhoun, Victoria, Goliad, Dewitt, Lavaca, Fayette, Jackson, Matagorda, Brazoria, Galveston, Wharton, Colorado, Austin, Washington, Burleson, Brazos, and Robertson.
AgriLife entomologists said they have submitted a formal Pest Incident Worksheet documenting significant damage to pastures and hayfields in Victoria County.
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