Pasture mealybugs, tiny white pests that weaken grass by injecting toxins and sucking sap, first appeared in South Texas in 2022 and have since spread across the state. Farmers have experimented with various pesticides and soap to control infestations.
Where
Statewide
When
First appeared in 2022; reported throughout article dated October 26, 2026
Sources
One outlet
Taxes and money
The sources don't state an effect on taxes. They do state these figures.
Estimated annual cost to farmers and ranchers$2 billion per year1Who pays or receives it: Texas farmers and ranchers
Who's involved
Danielle SekulaTexas A&M AgriLife pest specialist
David KernsAssociate head of entomology department with Texas A&M University
Stephen BilesSenior extension program specialist with Texas A&M entomology department
William SteubingRancher running cattle between San Marcos and Lockhart
Colin GraffForage business operator in Hondo
The facts
Pasture mealybugs first appeared in South Texas in 2022.1
Pasture mealybugs have been found in 114 Texas counties, stretching from Rio Grande Valley to Oklahoma border.1
Pasture mealybugs have also spread to Louisiana, Georgia and Florida.1
Insects were first identified in Australia but it is unclear how they reached Texas.1
Mealybugs weaken grass by injecting toxin and sucking sap; affected grass turns yellow, then red or purple, then dies.1
Farmers reported populations balloon after big rains.1
Kerns told Texas House Agriculture and Livestock Committee in October about potential costs.1
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
David Kerns Pasture mealybugs could have been blown to Texas by high winds from Caribbean.1
David Kerns Mealybugs like hot, humid weather and thick, tall grass.1
Colin Graff Chemigation works best for getting insecticide in soil to combat mealybugs.1
Where the sources disagree
Winter survival rate and weather cues that bring mealybugs back to surface Unclear how many survive winter and what triggers return; sources note this is unknown [1]
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
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