DECATUR COUNTY, Ga. — A new invasive pest has been spotted for the first time in Georgia.
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J. Harper confirmed that a pasture mealybug was discovered at a turfgrass business in Decatur County.
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A pasture mealybug is an invasive insect that affects annual and perennial warm season grasses and can spread quickly and cause major damage, according to a department news release.
The state’s Plant Protection Division first received a notice on July 27 from University of Georgia entomology partners about a possible detection on weeds and grass at the business.
The division then sent samples to the USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory for testing and confirmation, according to the release. The results came back positive.
“Pasture mealybug is a serious threat to Georgia agriculture and we’re asking Georgia farmers and producers to stay vigilant in order to protect their operations,” Harper said.
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Harper said the pest can spread quickly, kill grass and hurt Georgia farming businesses.
“I encourage everyone to walk their pastures and hayfields often to check for the pest. If you suspect you have the pasture mealybug, please contact your local County Extension Agent immediately,” he said.
The department said signs can show up within a week of infestation and may include: yellowing leaves that turn purple or red, stunted growth, drought-like stress after rainfall, poorly developed roots, dieback at the tips of older leaves and plant death.
The release urged farmers to take the following steps:
- Clean farm and hay equipment between fields or farms
- Avoid driving through pastures when possible
- Change clothing and footwear between fields or farms
- Keep grazing records
- Avoid moving livestock into or through affected pastures
- Limit wildlife movement through pastures when possible
- Limit vehicle traffic on and off the farm.
UGA has created a map to track confirmed pasture mealybug detections across the state and will update it as new cases are identified and confirmed.
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