Try To Spot The Two-Spot Cotton Leafhopper: LSU AgCenter Researchers Receive USDA Grant To Raise Awareness

V. TODD MILLER

 BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA

 With fall upon us, many a Louisianan’s mind turns to that first piping hot pot of gumbo simmering on the stove. But if the cotton jassid (Amrasca biguttula) has its way, one favorite ingredient — okra — may have to be left off the ingredient list.

Fortunately, LSU AgCenter researchers, armed with U.S. Department of Agriculture funding, just might save your mamaw’s recipe.

According to AgCenter entomologist and project director Jeff Davis, the nearly $500,000 grant from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture is meant to fund an integrated pest management program to assist in identifying the invasive cotton jassid, also known as the two-spot cotton leafhopper. The pest, which has recently been detected in Florida and other areas across the Southeast and Midsouth, attacks cotton and other crops, such as okra, which is related to cotton.

The project will assist in designing and developing trainings and resources with the short-term goal of identifying the pest, followed by longer term goals of communicating control strategies and ultimately developing sustainable best practices for management.

“It showed up in Florida in 2024, then last year just exploded everywhere in late July and early August,” Davis said. “The grant funding will help us do trainings with agents to get the word out. We’re even planning on creating some ‘wanted’ posters.”

In Louisiana, the pest was found in Pointe Coupee, Tangipahoa, Tensas and West Carroll parishes in the fall of 2025, and in Franklin and Rapides parishes in 2025 and this summer.

Cotton isn’t the major cash crop for Louisiana that it once was, comprising about 72,500 acres harvested statewide and creating a total value of $99.3 million last year for the state, according to the LSU AgCenter’s 2025 Highlights of Louisiana Agriculture report. The leafhopper isn’t particularly discriminating when it comes to its food sources, Davis said.

“What’s also interesting is that this pest affects a lot of horticultural crops, so it’s going to be on okra. It’s going to be on eggplant,” he said. “Also, a lot of ornamental crops like hibiscus. It thrives on and can really destroy hibiscus.”

According to Davis, the insects inject enzymes into the plant to aid in their digestion and, by doing so, the plant reacts violently. The leaves turn yellow, and the plant wilts right away. Once that happens, the plant can’t grow out of it.

Because of the newness of the pest, researchers have yet to determine if it has a natural predator. But Davis said one component of the grant funding is to study how weather patterns may affect it.

“Essentially, we’re looking at developmental thresholds for the insect,” he said. “We are going to be doing some life tables looking at what are the pests’ upper and lower temperatures.”

State vegetable specialist and AgCenter horticulturist Christine Coker is working with Davis on the project. She said the cotton insect presents a novel threat to a variety of plants.

“There are not many pests that we find to be problematic across the spectrum of agronomic crops, specialty crops, landscapes and home gardens,” she said. “This funding allows us to reach commercial producers as well as educate home gardeners about this potentially threatening pest.”

Also on the grant are AgCenter entomologists Aaron Ashbrook, Stephen Baca, Dawson Kerns and James Villegas. Kerns and Villegas have put together an information page on the pest.

On a positive note, Davis said sightings of the cotton jassid seem to be trending downward this year in the regions where last year’s big wave occurred.

“Does it mean it’s gone? No,” Davis said. “Does it mean it’s still a pest? Yes, it’s still a problem. We just need to be aware of it.”   ∆

V. TODD MILLER

LSU AGCENTER