Dr. Erin Powell, scale insect taxonomist with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Division of Plant Industry (FDACS DPI), joins Cow Talks to discuss the pasture mealybug (Heliococcus summervillei), a new invasive pest now confirmed in 14 Florida counties and expanding. Erin breaks down the insect's biology, life cycle, and likely origins, along with how it's spreading through shared equipment, sprigging practices, and roadside mowing. The episode also covers what producers and the public can do to slow its spread, the importance of reporting suspected infestations, and why caution is needed with insecticide use to protect natural enemies. To report a suspected mealybug or learn how to submit a sample, visit this link: https://www.fdacs.gov/Agriculture-Industry/Pests-and-Diseases/Plant-Pests-and-Diseases/How-to-Submit-a-Sample-for-Identification or reach out to your local extension office or forages@ifas.ufl.edu.

Bermuda grass stem maggot can silently strip between 30-50% of your forage yield during peak growing season. Dr. Lisa Baxter, UGA forage specialist, breaks down how to stay ahead of this pest through variety selection, cultural practices, and timely pyrethroid applications — plus where fall armyworm management overlaps.

For more information, check out UGA's EDIS equivalent: https://fieldreport.caes.uga.edu/publications/B1484/managing-bermudagrass-stem-maggots/

Updated recommendations: https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/cft2.20269

The invasive pasture mealybug has made its way to Florida. Isaac Esquivel and Texas integrated pest management specialist Stephen Biles discuss the recent detection of pasture mealybug in Florida and what it means for forage producers across the Southeast.

Drawing on Texas' experience with the invasive pest, Biles explains how pasture mealybug spreads and the warning signs producers should watch for, including red or yellowing leaves and rapid pasture decline. The conversation highlights the insect's movement through equipment and livestock as well as the challenges of detecting infestations before significant damage occurs.

Tune in for some practical recommendations of how to prevent its spread and contraction.

Relevant links:

https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/pasture-mealybug/