Today, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) published a new emergency quarantine order replacing the emergency quarantine that was issued last fall regarding the two-spotted cotton leafhopper (also known as the cotton jassid).
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The newly published quarantine is substantially similar to the prior emergency order.

• The rule language governing Texas counties is largely unchanged.
• Host plants and compliance requirements remain substantially the same, although the updated quarantine more clearly emphasizes the use of compliance agreements for ongoing shipments.

TDA will continue to maintain the official list of quarantined Texas counties on its Plant Quality website.

​Rafia Khan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist
Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center,
Overton, TX

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is working on publishing a series of educational articles to assist homeowners and green industry professionals in recognizing and managing two recently confirmed invasive insect pests in Texas: the two-spot cotton leafhopper (Amrasca biguttula) and the short-spined thrips (Thrips parvispinus). These pests pose emerging risks to ornamental plants by affecting plant health, appearance, and market value.

The planned articles will provide clear descriptions of pest identification and injury patterns to support early detection. Feeding by the two-spot cotton leafhopper causes a condition known as “hopperburn,” characterized by leaf curling, yellowing, bronzing, reduced vigor, and, in severe cases, plant death. This pest attacks a wide range of ornamental hosts, including hibiscus, and is often difficult to detect due to its small size and concealed feeding behavior. Short-spined thrips are tiny, highly polyphagous insects that feed on numerous ornamental crops, including annual bedding plants and tropical ornamentals. Their feeding leads to foliar scarring, distorted shoots, flower drops, and stunted growth, resulting in reduced plant quality and marketability.

In addition to injury symptoms, the articles will summarize current regulatory actions, including quarantine measures and inspection efforts implemented by regulatory agencies to limit pest movement and spread. Management options discussed will be based on science-based recommendations developed from research conducted by other researchers and institutions, with an emphasis on integrated pest management (IPM) strategies such as monitoring, sanitation, cultural practices, and targeted chemical controls when necessary.
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Through these publications, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension aims to improve awareness, encourage early reporting, and promote informed decision-making. By providing timely, research-informed guidance, Extension seeks to help homeowners and professionals reduce the impact of these invasive pests and protect the long-term sustainability of Texas landscapes and ornamental production systems.

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) has issued an emergency quarantine to prevent the spread of the invasive Cotton Jassid or Two-Spot Cotton Leafhopper, a destructive pest first detected on imported hibiscus plants. The quarantine currently applies to all Hibiscus species, but may expand to include additional host plants as more data becomes available.
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The quarantine currently covers shipments from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina, where the pest has been detected.

It also applies to Texas counties where detections have occurred, halting the movement of hostable plants without required phytosanitary documentation

No regulated articles may move from or within quarantined areas except under the following conditions:

1. Certification:
   Must be accompanied by a Certificate of Inspection issued by TDA or an authorized official confirming the articles are pest-free based on inspection or treatment. Certificates must include origin, destination, commodity, and pest-free declaration.
2. Treatment:
   Articles must be treated using TDA- or USDA-approved methods, such as:
   • Insecticidal dip or spray using EPA-registered products effective against leafhoppers (e.g., neonicotinoids like imidacloprid at labeled rates, applied to runoff).
   • Fumigation if approved for the commodity.
3. Pest-Free Certification:
   For propagation materials, a Pest-Free Area Certificate or Systems Approach Certification verifying production in a pest-free zone under USDA/APHIS guidelines.
4. Emergency Exemptions:
   Shipments for scientific, research, or immediate processing purposes may be allowed with prior TDA and/or USDA approval under containment protocols.

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➡️ Violations are subject to penalties under the Texas Agriculture Code, including fines up to $4,000 per violation, seizure or destruction of articles at the owner’s expense, and potential criminal charges.

While the quarantine focuses on movement control, TDA and Texas A&M AgriLife recommend the following Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies in infested areas:

• Scout: Inspect the undersides of leaves on the 3rd–5th nodes from the top; treat when 1–2 nymphs per leaf show visible injury.
• Treat: Use labeled insecticides (e.g., acephate, bifenthrin) and rotate chemical classes to prevent resistance. Avoid broad-spectrum applications that harm beneficial insects.
• Cultural Control: Maintain irrigation to reduce plant stress, destroy crop residues after harvest, and monitor or remove nearby weed hosts.

TNLA is in close communication with TDA’s Plant Quality Division and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension entomologists to ensure the industry has up-to-date guidance and clear compliance information.
Members are encouraged to:

• Inspect incoming plant shipments carefully,
• Maintain documentation for all plant movements, and
• Report any suspected pest activity to TDA Plant Quality at (512) 463-7660.

TNLA will continue to monitor this developing issue and share timely updates as new guidance or quarantine adjustments are announced.
👉 Learn more and view TDA’s current quarantine notice.