A new update on the pasture mealybug (Heliococcus summervillei) has been published by the UGA Beef Team. The pasture mealybug is an emerging pest that can cause significant damage to warm-season grasses.
The pasture mealybug was first officially reported in Texas in 2025 and can cause yellowing, stunted growth, browning, and potentially severe loss of pasture grasses. While the pest has not been officially reported in Georgia at the time of the UGA update, livestock and hay producers should regularly inspect their pastures and hayfields for signs of infestation.
There are currently limited reliable options for controlling pasture mealybug, making early detection and good farm biosecurity especially important. Producers should be cautious about moving equipment, hay, livestock, and other materials between fields or farms. Finally, as of now there are no labeled insecticides for complete control of pasture mealybug. The only product that currently holds an emergency label use in Georgia is the the product Sefina which offers suppression only.
If you suspect pasture mealybug in your pasture or hayfield, contact your local County Extension Agent for assistance with identification and reporting.
Read the full UGA Beef Team article: Updated Resource List for Pasture Mealybug by Lisa Baxter, Ph.D.
Updated Resource List for Pasture Mealybug | UGA Beef Team
Source: UGA Beef Team, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension.