Texas Agriculture Department Warns of Invasive Two-Spotted Leafhopper

AUSTIN – Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) announced immediate action in response to detections of the cotton jassid, also known as the two-spotted leafhopper (Amrasca biguttula), on hibiscus plants shipped into Texas from Costa Farms Nursery and its subsidiaries in Florida.

The cotton jassid is an invasive pest that feeds on a wide range of host plants, including cotton, okra, eggplant, sunflower, hibiscus and several weeds. Heavy infestations cause leaf curling, yellowing and plant decline, leading to major economic losses if left unchecked, said TDA.

In response, Miller and TDA have ordered the detection and destruction of infested hibiscus and any other plants belonging to the cotton family originating from these nurseries. Effective immediately, Costa Farms and its subsidiaries are suspended from shipping hibiscus or any other known host plants of the cotton jassid into Texas. TDA regional inspectors are conducting statewide market inspections at retail locations to remove and destroy affected plants from store shelves.

TDA said it is working closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, cotton producer organizations and the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association to assess the extent of the threat.