A new invasive pest is damaging grass and sugarcane crops across South Florida, raising alarms among farmers and researchers alike. The pasture mealybug has now been detected in 15 Florida counties — and scientists at the University of Florida are racing to find solutions.
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.”…