Texas produces 40% of the United States’ cotton, with an annual economic impact of over $5 billion. However, Texas A&M’s AgriLife Extension specialists have detected a new pest that could cut revenue in half.

Cotton jassids, also known as two-spot cotton leafhoppers, are an invasive insect species native to Asia. On Feb. 5, the Texas Department of Agriculture, or TDA, enacted an emergency quarantine to safeguard cotton fields and plant nurseries in counties such as Cameron, Grimes, Fort Bend and Wharton. All counties transporting hostable plants must have phytosanitary documentation, otherwise, shipments will be subjected to quarantine.

Likely introduced to the U.S. through international trade or strong wind currents, jassids were first identified in Puerto Rico in 2023 and later in South Florida in 2024. The pests have since spread throughout the Southeast, reaching Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana among other states. 

In late 2025, jassid sightings were reported on hibiscus plants in big-box stores across Texas and in cotton fields in quarantined zones. 

“This is a big potential threat to the Texas agricultural industry,” associate professor and AgriLife Extension Entomologist Suhas Vyavhare, Ph.D., said. 

Vyavhare described the threat as serious, noting potential impacts to costs of production as well as the number of insecticide applications. 

“But, at this stage, it’s still a developing situation,” Vyavhare said. 

Jassids are small, pale-green insects with yellow-tinted wings — roughly the size of Abraham Lincoln’s nose on a penny. They can be identified by two distinctive black dots located at the tip of each wing. While cotton is their primary target, these pests also infest okra, eggplant, sunflower, soybean, potato and ornamental plants, such as hibiscus.

Adult jassids feed on sap from the underside of cotton leaves and inject a deadly toxin, the nature of which is unknown. Early signs of infestation include hopperburn, a condition when yellowed leaves curl inward. As damage progresses, leaf edges turn red and brittle — a sign the plant is dying.

“The rate at which a plant dies depends on the density of the jassid infestation, but it can be very quick,” professor and AgriLife Extension Entomologist David Kerns, Ph.D., said. “For instance, in severe infestations with as many as 30 jassids per leaf, plants have been observed to die within four days.”

The TDA estimates that if the jassid infestation is not addressed, the rapidly growing population will slash cotton yields by 50% — largely due to the pest’s rapid reproduction cycle. Under favorable conditions, a complete generation usually occurs every two weeks. 

Last year, jassids arrived late in the cotton growing season and were kept at bay by colder temperatures. This year, although uncertain, extension specialists expect a surge in population and spread as warmer spring temperatures coincide with prime flowering seasons.

Initial observations from Georgia indicate jassid infestations are most severe along field margins, which are uncultivated strips of land located between crops or at field boundaries. 

“The best thing we can do is stay alert, stay informed and don’t panic,” Vyavhare said. “Follow the news and monitor plants very closely.”

Cotton farmer Jeremy Brown owns Broadview Agriculture, a farm located in the southern plains of West Texas near Lubbock. He grows organic cotton through regenerative agricultural practices that restore degraded soils and use limited pesticides. 

“Cotton jassid is on everyone’s radar; every year there is another challenge for us to overcome as farmers,” Brown said. “We’ve had similar situations with sugarcane aphids and boll weevils in the past. My hope is that everyone is working together to mitigate whatever damage we can, especially as the warm weather comes.”

Vyavhare cautions growers to stay vigilant, but to understand that insect invasions in agriculture are not unusual. 

“When pests like the sugarcane aphid or cotton jassid establish in new regions, there is always a learning curve to understand their biology and develop management strategies,” Vyavhare said. “Staying alert and informed is important. Regular field scouting is essential to detect problems early and enable timely management. A key lesson from past experiences is the importance of not underestimating new pests.”

So far, prevention and treatment options are limited. Kerns encourages growers to plant early — so crops can mature before jassid populations peak — and to avoid insecticide application unless directly advised by specialists. Plant nurseries should also exercise caution and avoid transporting infested host plants, such as hibiscus, between regions.

“Right now, the only viable treatment option is to spray insecticide on infested crops, like cotton, and nursery plants, like hibiscus,” Vyavhare said. “But before using those sprays, we need to make sure the insect is in fact a cotton jassid and not some other harmless leafhopper. As soon as you suspect, please call your nearest extension office or extension entomologist, and report it to the Texas Department of Agriculture so we can take steps to mitigate the situation or contain the spread.” 

As an organic cotton grower, Brown said he is concerned about infestation because his remedies are limited to nonchemical treatments.

Kerns suggests planting varieties with greater resistance and quicker maturation. He also recommends the use of natural insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils, although they may not be very effective.

“These products must make direct contact with the insect to kill it,” Kerns said. “They will be most effective if sprayed on the undersides of leaves where the insects feed. This may help, but it’s largely impractical for huge cotton fields — we just don’t have the kind of equipment to do that.”

Current research is investigating why plants like cotton are so vulnerable to jassids. Ongoing experiments are examining the toxin responsible for hopperburn and assessing whether plant nutrition influences susceptibility. In addition, other studies are focusing on developing effective insecticide treatments. 

“Most of the information we’ve learned so far has come from one year of experience in the Southeast U.S. and from Asia where this is a major pest of concern,” Vyavhare said. “In countries like India, they spray for jassids five to seven times a season — which can really bite into their profits.”

At this stage, Vyavhare stresses the importance of monitoring plants and being ready to spray if needed.

“All we can do is continue what we have been doing,” Vyavhare said. “And in addition to that, have some sort of plan to scout for jassids throughout the season and report any sightings to your local extension office or the TDA.”