COMMISSIONER MILLER ACTIVATES EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO PROTECT TEXAS COTTON AND ORNAMENTAL INDUSTRIES FROM NEW INVASIVE PEST (9/8/2025)

AUSTIN – Today, 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.

“The two-spotted leafhopper, or cotton jassid, poses a significant threat to Texas agriculture, particularly to our cotton growers. Our response is risk-based, science-driven, and coordinated with industry. We will do what it takes to defend Texas farmers, ranchers, and the multibillion-dollar cotton industry that stands as a pillar of our economy. To safeguard this industry, we are acting quickly, decisively, and with all our resources to prevent this pest from gaining a foothold in our state.”

In response, Commissioner Sid 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 also conducting statewide market inspections at retail locations to remove and destroy affected plants from store shelves.

TDA 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. Outreach and education materials on the cotton jassid are being distributed to growers, retailers, and the public to help identify and report suspected infestations.

Timeline of Spread in the U.S. and Territories

1. April 2023 – Puerto Rico: First detection in the Western Hemisphere, found on cotton and later on eggplant and wild cotton.
2. November 2024 – Florida: First U.S. detection in Miami-Dade County on okra, later spreading across the state.
3. July 2025 – Georgia: First detection in Seminole County; as of August 29, confirmed in 57 counties.
4. July/August 2025 – Alabama: First detection in Henry County; confirmed in 17 counties by August 28.
5. August 2025 – South Carolina: First detection in Charleston County; now widely distributed across the lower half of the state.
6. August 2025 – Texas: Detected on retail hibiscus in multiple locations, including College Station, McAllen, Weslaco, Harlingen, Victoria, Cedar Park, Waco, El Paso, and Longview.

Anyone who has recently purchased hibiscus or other cotton family plants from a retail store is encouraged to carefully inspect their plants for signs of infestation. If infestation is suspected, contact TDA at 1(800) TELL TDA or any of TDA’s Regional Offices (TDA Locations).