Fund surveys for the emerging pasture mealybug (heliococcus summervillei)

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded the Texas Department of Agriculture a $225,000 Cooperative Agreement on June 1, 2026, to fund detection surveys for the emerging pasture mealybug (Heliococcus summervillei) across Texas counties.

The award funds a coordinated pasture mealybug survey with standardized sampling, diagnostic procedures, and georeferenced data collection. Field teams will identify, sample, and map pest presence at the county level while collaborating with landowners and partners to support access, outreach, and early detection. Ongoing site monitoring will track population changes and potential spread. The recipient will also produce educational materials for external stakeholders including ranchers, hay producers, pasture landowners, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension educators and researchers, and the broader cattle and agricultural economy.

Deliverables include field maps providing USDA real-time access to data on pasture mealybug presence or absence and host identification. The project runs through May 31, 2027, with place of performance in Texas. No sub-recipients are identified in the award.

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to fund surveys for the emerging pasture mealybug (heliococcus summervillei). These surveys are to detect the presence or absence of the pasture mealybug in texas at the county level. The surveys are also to identify any new hosts for this pest. Additionally, this award will fund the production of educational materials for external stakeholders.

Activities

The tasks for this project involve designing and implementing a coordinated pasture mealybug survey, including standardized sampling, diagnostic procedures, and georeferenced data collection. Field teams will identify, sample, and map pest presence while collaborating with landowners and partners to support access, outreach, and early detection. Ongoing site monitoring will help track population changes and potential spread. Deliverables and expected outcomes: the goals of this research project are to assist the united states department of agriculture with delimiting surveys of pasture mealybug for presence/absence and assist with host identification. Upon completion of this project the united states department of agriculture will better understand the status and impacts of the pasture mealybug. Data will be collected in field maps which allows the united states department of agriculture real time access to data. Intended beneficiary(IES): the primary beneficiaries would include ranchers, HAY producers, pasture LA ndowners. Additionally, texas a & M agrilife extension: educators and researchers, and the broader cattle and agricultural economy, through protection of forage resources and livestock sustainability. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: none