Update on Cotton Jassid: A New Pest of Concern in Texas Cotton 

Introduction

We are closely monitoring the recent invasion of cotton jassids, Amrasca biguttula Ishida (also known as the two-spot cotton leafhopper) in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina, and we are keeping a close watch for this pest in Texas.

In Texas this pest has been detected on hibiscus in big box store nurseries in Bellmead, McAllen, Weslaco, Harlingen, Victoria, Rosenberg, San Antonio, Cedar Park, College Station, Waco, Longview, Corpus Christi and El Paso. There is also a probable detection of jassids in cotton in Fort Bend County, although this finding has not yet been fully confirmed.

It appears that infested hibiscus plants were shipped from South Florida for sell throughout much of the southern U.S. The Texas Department of Agriculture is taking steps to eliminate this potential source of cotton jassid, and the situation is being investigated by USDA-APHIS. It is unknown whether this incident will result in the establishment of this pest.

Description

Adult cotton jassids measure approximately 1/8 of an inch (2-3 mm) in length and are pale green with yellowish-green wings. They can be distinguished from other leafhopper species by a prominent black spot on the apical area of each forewing and, often, by two dark spots on either side of the head. The markings sometimes can be faint or absent. Therefore, definitive morphological identification requires dissection and examination of the male genitalia by a specialist or confirmation through molecular testing. 

The eggs, which are laid within the veins and midribs of leaves, are yellowish-white, oblong and less than 0.04 inches (1 mm) long, nearly invisible without magnification. 

Newly hatched nymphs are wingless, pale green and highly agile, often scuttling sideways or dropping from plants when disturbed. They are very small, typically less than 0.05 inches (1.27 mm) long—and difficult to distinguish from nymphs of other species. When disturbed, both adults and nymphs exhibit distinctive sideways movements and quick hopping behavior. 

Established distribution 

The cotton jassid’s native range extends from Iran to Japan and Indonesia. It is a serious economic pest of cotton in the Indian subcontinent. In 2022 and 2023 it was reported as a serious pest of cotton in West Africa. It was found in Puerto Rico in 2023, followed by other Caribbean Islands and Florida in 2024. By 2025, infestations had been reported in multiple counties in Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina. 

Life cycle 

The majority of the information comes from research conducted in the native range of pest. As per the literature, female cotton jassids lay multiple eggs (14 to 60), which hatch in approximately one week. The nymphal stage lasts 5 to 16 days, and adults live for up to five weeks. The total lifecycle duration varies with temperature and humidity. For example, in India, generation time ranges from 15 to 46 days, allowing up to 11 generations per year, largely due to the continuous availability of host plants in warmer climates. 

Host range 

Cotton jassid has a fairly broad host range primarily within the families Malvaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae and Solanaceae. This includes cotton, okra, peanuts, soybeans, sunflowers, eggplant, potato and many ornamental plants. When the pest first invaded Florida it was detected in high number in okra. 

Cotton injury and symptoms 

Nymphs and adults feed on the undersides of leaves, extracting sap with their piercing-sucking mouthparts and causing curling, yellowing and bronzing of foliage—symptoms collectively referred to as “hopperburn.”

Initial observations from Georgia indicate that jassid infestations and associated plant injury appear quickly after colonization and are most severe along field margins. Under heavy infestation, hopperburn symptoms extend throughout the field, leading to premature defoliation. Severe feeding stunts plant growth and can cause the premature drop of fruiting structures, resulting in yield and quality losses.

In India, this pest is reported to cause up to 50% of yield losses in cotton and is known to be extremely difficult to control. This species of leafhopper is not confirmed to be a vector of any pathogens. While the full impact on yields in U.S. cotton is still uncertain, Extension experts and researchers across the Southeast where the insect has been found to infest cotton fields are actively investigating the impact of this pest as well as potential control options. 

Treatment decision and insecticide efficacy data 

Based on the initial studies done in Alabama and Georgia, the recommended treatment threshold for cotton jassid is one to two nymphs per leaf. Scouting should focus on the undersides of mainstem leaves at the third, fourth or fifth node from the top of the plant. The threshold applies when injury symptoms are observed, which helps confirm correct identification, as other leafhopper species do not cause similar symptoms.

Populations and damage typically appear first along field edges before spreading inward. The ‘hopperburn’ symptoms could be confused with Verticillium wilt or severe potassium deficiency at first glance. It is important to look underside of leaves for presence of insects.

Although insecticide efficacy evaluations are ongoing, Bidrin, Sivanto Prime, Sefina and Carbine have shown promise in Georgia and Alabama.