A brand new invasive pest is on the scene for cotton growers in the Southeast.
University of Georga Extension Entomologist Phillip Roberts presented the latest information on the Cotton Jassid during the Cotton Consultants Conference yesterday in San Antonio on the first day of the 2026 Beltwide Cotton Conferences.
“So this is an invasive insect, native to India,” said Roberts. “It was discovered in this hemisphere in Puerto Rico in 2023. The following year, in 2024, it was detected in Florida. So the first time in the U.S. was 2024. We first detected the insect in Georgia on July 9th on cotton. It was found in cotton in Florida and South Carolina about that same time. But just within a matter of weeks, the insect had really spread across the southern part of Georgia. By September, the insect was present and every cotton producing county in our state has ran up the eastern seaboard to the Virginia line and west to Mississippi and even some areas of Texas. So it expanded very, very quickly.”
Roberts was joined by other UGA extension agents on a panel to discuss their experiences with the invasive pest. Listen below to learn more.
Cotton Jassid – a New Invasive Pest in the Southeast – Interview with Phillip Roberts, UGA extension entomologist
Phillip Roberts, UGA extension entomologist, interview 10:44
Cotton Jassid panel – UGA Extension – Phillip Roberts, Will Brown, Jacob Kalina, Jeremy Kichler
UGA extension agents Jassid panel 20:10