A new invasive pest spotted in Florida has been damaging grass and sugarcane crops in South Florida, causing concern among farmers.

The pasture mealybug has been spotted in 15 Florida counties so far, as well as Louisiana and Texas. The bug eats the sap of leaves of grasses and sugarcane, causing the plants to die, and it can be responsible for the rapid decline of an entire field. University of Florida expert Isaac Esquivel, an assistant professor of entomology and nematology in agronomic and forage crops, shares his expertise about the emerging concern of pasture mealybugs: What they are, how they impact crops and what farmers can do.

Q: What is the pasture mealybug?

A: A pasture mealybug is a small, white oval-shaped insect that appears slightly fuzzy or fluffy. It is particularly small – about the width of a pencil eraser at the largest – and looks almost identical to non-destructive varieties of mealybugs.

Pasture mealybugs eat plant sap found in blades of grass, sugarcane and other grass-like crops. They can also dig into the soil to feed on roots, and they often survive cold winters underground. Their appetite can damage crops and lead to widespread die-offs of entire pastures or fields.

Q: When did it appear in Florida, and where is it now?

A: It was first reported in Florida in late May, and as of July 6, it has been spotted in the following Florida counties: Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lee, Martin, Okeechobee, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk and St. Lucie counties.

The insect is native to Australia, and it was reported in Texas in pasture grasses and in Louisiana in sugarcane in late 2025. It is currently unknown how the invasive species arrived in Florida or where it came from.

Sugarcane in Florida has been impacted by the pasture mealybug.

Photo by Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS

Q: What does it do to crops?

A: It’s a concern for pasture grasses and hayfields that feed livestock, and it can kill a whole pasture. It will start in a hot spot but will take over a whole field within one to two weeks.

It also has significant impacts on sugarcane crops.

Q: What can farmers do against pasture mealybug?

A: Unfortunately, this is a new invasive species for our state and our country, so there are no reliable insecticides on the market that we know of to treat this, but we’re doing research to see what might work well.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued an emergency, crisis exemption for the use of a specific pesticide – Sivanto prime – for use against pasture mealybugs on sugarcane in Florida through July 9. Research is being done to see how effective this pesticide is against pasture mealybugs and if this could be a long-term solution.

For now, the best strategy is to be very aware of the condition of your grass crops. If you see any slight browning, get close to the plant and look for the pests. If you spot something that appears like pasture mealybugs, report them to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for sample collection and contact your local Extension office. This helps UF/IFAS keep track of the pest’s spread and develop management strategies.

Q: How is this different from other mealybugs?

A: Florida has more than 80 species of mealybugs – and most are either harmless or are only slight nuisances. The pasture mealybug is rare and unique in that it’s so destructive, but just because you see a mealybug on your plants, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the invasive species we’re concerned about.

Q: What should I do if I think pasture mealybug is in my field?

A: If you suspect your field is infected, please take pictures and fill out the UF/IFAS Pasture Mealybug Report form and send samples to FDACS Division of Plant Industry.

Q: What words of encouragement do you have for farmers who are going through pasture mealybug infestations?

A: The most important thing to remember right now is that these are the early days of a new pest invasion. So there will be some growing pains and some unavoidable crop losses while researchers work to find a solution. But we will work tirelessly to find that solution, and we will get through to the other side.

Invasive species are controllable, and research is an active learning process, and I can promise researchers like me won’t stop until we find the solution to this new challenge.

Q: Is there a place where I can keep up with the latest news on this pest?

A: The latest updates from UF/IFAS experts can be found on this informational website and on the UF/IFAS forage team’s Instagram account.