Have You Heard of One of Texas’ Most Invasive Crop Pests?

Not many people know that rice farmers have a multitude of dangers when planting their crops, but one that stands out has six legs, small wings, and a 'piercing-sucking mouthpart,' according to Texas A&M Agrilife Extension. How metal is that?

What Are Rice Delphacids?

Rice Delphacids, also called planthoppers, are tiny little insects that use specialized mouth parts to suck the sap from rice plants, damaging crops in the process.

These pests extract essential nutrients from rice plants, forcing them to die off. On top of this, they even cause a special condition in plants called "hopperburn" where the tips of leaves turn brown and die due to pest interference.

Rice Delphacids also excrete a sugary substance that leads to mold growth on rice leaves, preventing the plant from getting the proper sunlight it needs.

A Message from Texas Ag Commissioner

In a recent warning from Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, he stated that this crop pest was first detected in Texas back in 2018. This was when farmers experienced plant collapse and significant grain loss.

The good news is that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended a quarantine exemption, allowing Texas to expedite treatment of 170,000 acres across 19 counties that have been impacted by the Rice Delphacid.

Commissioner Miller had this to say after learning about the EPA extension:

I will never stop working to protect Texas agriculture, that's why we're pushing ahead hand-in-hand with our federal partners, researchers, and the rice industry to make sure we stay ahead of this pest and protect Texas agriculture.

Texas farmers and ranchers are the backbone of our food industry, so ensuring that their crops remain pest-free should be one of our biggest goals as we get closer and closer to 2030.