Beware: New Pest Alert for Texas Cotton and Vegetable Farmers

Texas farmers are facing a new invasive pest known as the Cotton Jassid. You might also hear it called the two-spotted leafhopper, two-spot cotton leafhopper, or spotted leafhopper. My friend Marshall Webb, Deputy Director for Communications at the Texas Department of Agriculture, helped me sort through the many names this little critter goes by. Either way, this is the bug Texas must do away with.

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Why It’s Dangerous

The cotton jassid feeds on cotton, okra, eggplant, sunflower, hibiscus, and even weeds. Heavy infestations cause leaf curling, yellowing, and plant decline, leading to big economic losses if not stopped early. While I haven’t spotted one in my own yard, that doesn’t mean it’s not here in West Texas.

TDA’s Emergency Response

Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) have ordered the detection and destruction of infested hibiscus plants, many linked to Florida shipments. Costa Farms and its subsidiaries are now suspended from sending host plants into Texas. Inspectors are sweeping retail stores statewide to pull contaminated plants off the shelves.

“Our response is risk-based, science-driven, and coordinated with industry,” Miller said. “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.”
Source: Commissioner Miller from the TDA press release.

Where It’s Been Found

The cotton jassid first appeared in Puerto Rico in 2023, then spread to Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina. As of August 2025, it has been detected on retail hibiscus plants in College Station, McAllen, Weslaco, Harlingen, Victoria, Cedar Park, Waco, El Paso, and Longview.

Read More: The Deadly West Nile Virus Is Found in Abilene, Spraying Underway

What Texans Can Do

If you’ve purchased hibiscus or other cotton-family plants recently, inspect them closely. Look for curling, yellowing leaves, or plant decline. Suspected infestations should be reported to the TDA at 1-800-TELL-TDA or through any of their regional offices.