‘The potential to destroy:’ Invasive pest sparks action from Florida scientists

University of Florida researchers have secured $200,000 in federal funding to study how the invasive pasture mealybug affects Florida sugarcane and how growers can manage the pest.In a release this week, UF/IFAS officials said the two-year award is part of a federal grant supporting research in Florida and Louisiana, the only states that produce sugarcane in the United States. UF/IFAS researchers at the Everglades Research and Education Center in Belle Glade are working with Louisiana State University on the project.“If left unmanaged, pasture mealybug has the potential to destroy an entire sugarcane field,” said Julien Beuzelin, an associate professor of entomology at the center. Beuzelin said the amount of damage can vary, but infestations can cause substantial yield losses.Research will examine damage and control optionsPasture mealybugs feed on sugarcane and other grasses, causing leaves to turn yellow. Researchers will study how infestations relate to leaf yellowing and crop yield