A new invasive pest is damaging grass and sugarcane crops across South Florida, raising alarms among farmers and researchers alike, according to our sister station News 4 Jax in Jacksonville.
The pasture mealybug has now been detected in 15 Florida counties — and scientists at the University of Florida are racing to find solutions.
Recommended Videos
Isaac Esquivel, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of entomology and nematology in agronomic and forage crops, is among the researchers studying the pest. He’s breaking down what farmers need to know — from identifying the insect to protecting their fields.
What is a pasture mealybug?
The pasture mealybug is a small, white, oval-shaped insect with a slightly fuzzy or fluffy appearance. At its largest, it’s roughly the width of a pencil eraser — and it looks nearly identical to non-destructive mealybug species common in Florida.
“Florida has more than 80 species of mealybugs — and most are either harmless or are only slight nuisances,” Esquivel said. “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.”
The pest feeds on plant sap in grass blades, sugarcane and other grass-like crops. It can also burrow into soil to feed on roots and is capable of surviving cold winters underground — making it a year-round threat.
How fast can it spread?
The speed of this pest’s damage is what makes it particularly alarming to researchers and farmers. Once established in a field, it can be devastating.
“It will start in a hot spot but will take over a whole field within one to two weeks,” Esquivel said. “It’s a concern for pasture grasses and hayfields that feed livestock, and it can kill a whole pasture.”
The mealybug is native to Australia and was first reported in the U.S. in late 2025 — in Texas in pasture grasses and in Louisiana in sugarcane. It was first detected in Florida in late May 2026. As of July 6, it has been confirmed in Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lee, Martin, Okeechobee, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk and St. Lucie counties. How it arrived in Florida remains unknown.
What options do farmers have right now?
Treatment options are currently limited, as researchers are still evaluating what works against this newly arrived species.
“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,” Esquivel said.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued an emergency crisis exemption for the use of Sivanto Prime, a specific pesticide, against pasture mealybugs on sugarcane in Florida. Researchers are still evaluating its long-term effectiveness.
In the meantime, Esquivel says early detection is the most powerful tool farmers have.
“If you see any slight browning, get close to the plant and look for the pests,” he said. “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.”
What should you do if you spot it?
Farmers who suspect an infestation should take photos and submit them using the UF/IFAS Pasture Mealybug Report form. Samples should be sent to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Division of Plant Industry. Reporting helps researchers track the pest’s spread and develop management strategies.
For those already dealing with losses, Esquivel offers a message of reassurance.
“The most important thing to remember right now is that these are the early days of a new pest invasion,” he said. “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,” Esquivel added.