Another Devastating Pest Moves into Florida - Pasture Mealybug

In case you haven’t yet heard, there is yet another pest spreading around Florida: the pasture mealybug. It first came onto FDACS radar in Florida back in May of 26 and now has spread and is found in many counties in South Florida.  

A pink-bodied winged adult male in a heavy infestation of unmated females and nymphs. Photo: Erin C. Powell, FDACS-DPI

This mealybug is a pest of grasses and is ravaging the sugar cane industry as well as spreading to cattle pastures.  It can be a pest of many grasses including corn, rice, bahiagrass, lipograss, bermudagrass and many others. 

Damage from this pest is a severe dieback, stunting, and senescence of leaves and then death of the grass. 

Please check any grass plants that are moved from south Florida for this pest.  If you suspect that your pasture, turf or ornamentals are showing signs of a pasture mealybug infestation, submit a sample to DPI’s Entomology section for identification or contact the DPI Helpline at 1-888-397-1517 or DPIHelpline@FDACS.gov.

For more detailed information, here is the FDACS pest alert.  https://ccmedia.fdacs.gov/content/download/120429/file/pasture-mealybug-pest-alert.pdf