LUBBOCK, TEXAS (RFD NEWS) — Cotton producers across the Southeast U.S. are facing a new threat this growing season as the cotton jassid, an invasive pest, begins drawing attention from researchers and growers. RFD NEWS correspondent Frank McCaffrey spoke with experts who say there is still much to learn about the insect and its potential impact.
In the Rio Grande Valley, cotton acres have already declined sharply due to long-standing water shortages tied to a 1944 treaty with Mexico. Danielle Sekula with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension says planted acreage remains historically low.
“Our biggest problem right now is water. So back 13 years ago when I started it was a good 200,000 acres of cotton or more. Right now, currently last year we had 60,000 acres about planted, only 34,000 was harvested. This year going into planting season we’re hoping to get about anywhere from 40 to 60,000 acres of cotton planted. That’s very, very low,” Sekula said.
Now, growers are watching closely as the cotton jassid emerges as a potential new challenge.
Josh Lee, assistant professor and extension specialist at Auburn University, says the insect has recently been identified in the Southeast.
“The Cotton Jassid is a new invasive species affecting mainly cotton. We noticed it in the southeast. It’s a new invasive pest. We do feel like it will be an issue, a new insect pest that we’ll have to combat this growing season,” Lee said.
Lee explained the pest damages cotton by injecting toxins into the plant.
“It is a cotton leaf hopper so it actually injects a toxin into the plant system. Initial symptoms look like yellowing on the outside of the leaves with progression of that insect, that Cotton Jassid feeding. It becomes redding and then it actually becomes brown causing the leaf to have desiccation. Work is being done now to figure out what they’re hosting on, where they’re at this winter, and maybe what time that they’re going to come in. But those are some unknowns that we don’t know until ‘26 season,” he said.
So far, the cotton jassid has been detected at nurseries in South Texas, but not yet in commercial cotton fields.
“Last year, 2025, our cotton crop we did not see it in the cotton but we did find it from August until now on hibiscus,” Sekula said.
Sekula says her team has already begun educating growers on how to identify and monitor the pest.
“The biology of this Cotton Jassid, what it looks like. It’s a two-spotted leaf hopper that feeds on cotton primarily and lime green and very small and so we’ve been educating the growers what to look for. We’re going to need a scout for it diligently from the time that that cotton is up until about two weeks before it gets harvested,” she said.
Despite the unknowns, Lee remains optimistic.
“What we do know is that we can grow cotton, we can make cotton with this pest in the system. What we don’t know is the timing and the impact of when this insect will be there,” he said.
Frank McCaffrey reporting for RFD NEWS.
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