What: Experts from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) are hosting an informational webinar on the invasive pasture mealybug.
Where: Online via Zoom.
When: 10:00 a.m. ET on Friday, July 17, 2026.
Participate: Please visit https://ufl.zoom.us/j/97806711502 to participate. Advance registration is not required, and it is open to the public.
About: The emerging invasive pasture mealybug issue has been recently detected in 15 Florida counties so far, as well as Louisiana and Texas. It has been recorded as damaging grass and sugarcane crops in South Florida, causing growing concern among farmers.
To help producers stay ahead of and manage the problem, experts from UF/IFAS and FDACS are hosting a public webinar. This provides an opportunity for entomologists, agronomists, forage specialists and taxonomic experts to present information about the bug’s biology, identification, management strategies, and currently available insecticide options, highlighting the multidisciplinary effort needed to address the spreading problem.
Scientists are working to better understand how the insect spreads, what plants it attacks, how much damage it causes and the most effective ways to control it.
The bug eats the sap from the leaves of grasses, such as limpograss, bermudagrass, bahiagrass and sugarcane, causing the plants to die. Devastating impacts can include the rapid decline of entire fields or pastures that support cattle and livestock production.
Experts will share the latest information and discuss what researchers and industry professionals know so far about this important pest.
For the latest information, please visit our pasture mealybug website or visit our FAQ blog post.
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ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
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