1Citrus Leprosis

Citrus Leprosis (CiLV) is an economically important viral disease that can damage citrus crops. Symptoms include small, brown spots— commonly referred to as nail-head rust—that appear on fruit, leaves, and twigs of affected trees. This emerging disease is widely distributed in South and Central America, from Argentina to Mexico but not yet present in the U.S. It is transmitted by Brevipalpus mites. Mites can become airborne and can be carried with citrus fruits, plant parts, and with passenger luggage or cargo from the infested citrus growing areas.

2Mexican Fruit Fly

The Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) is a serious pest to various fruits, particularly citrus and mango. The Mexican Fruit Fly was first found in Central Mexico in 1863, and by the early 1950s flies were found along the California-Mexico border. Many commercially grown crops, including avocado, grapefruit, orange, peach, and pear would be threatened if the Mexican Fruit Fly becomes established. The sources of threat are fresh produce, fruit and vegetables brought into the U.S. or across state borders without inspection.

Each year, the pest enters the Lower Rio Grande Valley’s 27,000 acres of commercial citrus crops from south of the border and attacks more than 40 different kinds of fruits. Damage occurs when the female fly lays eggs in the fruit, which then hatch into larvae, making the fruit unmarketable.

Currently, the Texas Department of Agriculture maintains an active quarantine for the Mexican Fruit Fly and is engaged in its eradication with our USDA partners.

3Mediterrranean Fruit Fly

The Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata or Medfly) is considered the most important agricultural pest in the world. The Medfly has spread throughout the Mediterranean region, southern Europe, the Middle East, western Australia, South and Central America and Hawaii. It has been recorded infesting a wide range of commercial and garden fruits, nuts and vegetables, including apple, avocado, bell pepper, citrus, melon, peach, plum, and tomato.

4Emerald Ash Borer

The Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis or EAB) is responsible for the destruction of tens of millions of ash trees in 30 U.S. States. Native to Asia, it likely arrived in the United States hidden in wood packing materials. The first U.S. identification of Emerald Ash Borer was in southeastern Michigan in 2002. The sources of threat are firewood, ash wood products, ash wood packing material, infested nursery ash plants, ash wood debris and trimmings, including chips. These materials can spread the infestation even if no beetles are visible.

Texas is particularly at risk because species of ash (Fraxinus spp.), including many native to Texas, are vulnerable. In many Texas cities, ash is an important ornamental tree in landscapes and along streets.

5Asian Citrus Psyllid (HLB or Citrus Greening)

The Asian Citrus Psyllid (Diaphorina citri kuwayama or ACP) causes serious damage to citrus plants and citrus plant relatives. Burned tips and twisted leaves result from an infestation on new growth. Psyllids are also carriers of the bacterium that causes Huanglongbing (HLB) disease, also known as citrus greening disease, spreading the disease to healthy citrus plants. Citrus greening is one of the most serious citrus plant diseases in the world. Once a tree is infected, there is no cure.

6Cotton Boll Weevil

The Cotton Boll Weevil (Anthonomus grandis) is a beetle native to Mexico and Central America. It was first introduced into the United States near Brownsville, Texas, in about 1892. By 1922, the pest had spread into cotton growing areas of the United States from the eastern two-thirds of Texas and Oklahoma to the Atlantic Ocean. Boll weevils feed on and reproduce in cotton. Both the feeding and reproduction processes damage bolls on the cotton plant ultimately reducing quality and the amount of cotton lint available for harvest. The Boll Weevil has cost the cotton industry $23 billion in economic losses since it moved into the United States from Mexico.

As the number one cotton producer in the United States, Texas is active in the fight against this invasive pest. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), in collaboration with the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation (TBWEF) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), assists cotton farmers in increasing efficiencies, eliminating duplication of efforts and streamlining the process of cotton stalk destruction — all of which work to eradicate Boll Weevils from Texas’ cotton crop. Prior to the eradication efforts, Boll Weevils caused an estimated $200 million in losses per year to Texas farmers.

Parts of Texas bordering with Mexico continue to battle the Boll Weevil, where the effects of border violence and funding hardships for Mexico’s eradication programs create challenges in the much-needed progress towards eradication. The continued collaborative efforts of industry leaders, farmers, TBWEF, USDA and TDA are key to future successes in these areas.

7Asian Long Horned Beetle

The Asian Long-horned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis, or ALB) is a threat to American hardwood trees. With no current cure, early identification and eradication are critical to its control. It threatens recreation and forest resources valued at billions of dollars. The ALB has the potential to cause more damage than Dutch elm disease, chestnut blight, and gypsy moths combined, destroying millions of acres of America's treasured hardwoods, including national forests and backyard trees. The sources of threat are eggs, larvae, and hitchhiking adults in firewood, solid wood packing material, wood debris and trimmings, branches, logs, stumps, and lumber even if no beetles are visible.

8Khapra Beetle

The Khapra Beetle (Trogoderma granarium) is one of the world’s most destructive pests of stored grain products and seeds. Its feeding damage often spoils 30-27 percent of the product. Established infestations are difficult to control because the beetle can survive without food for long periods, requires little moisture, hides in tiny cracks and crevices, and is relatively resistant to many insecticides and fumigants.

9Asian Gypsy Moth

Asian Gypsy Moths (AGM, Lymantria dispar asiatica, Lymantria dispar japonica, Lymantria albescens, Lymantria umbrosa, and Lymantria postalba) are exotic pests not known to occur in the United States. If they would become established here, they could cause serious, widespread damage to our country’s landscape and natural resources. Each female moth can lay hundreds of eggs that, in turn, yield hundreds of voracious caterpillars that may feed on more than 500 tree and shrub species. Large AGM infestations can completely defoliate trees. Repeated defoliation can lead to the death of large sections of forests, orchards, and landscaping. AGM females fly long distances can quickly spread throughout the United States.

10Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle

The Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros) was first detected in Hawaii in December 2013. This invasive pest is native to southeast Asia. It attacks coconut palms by boring into the crowns or tops of the tree where it damages growing tissue and feeds on tree sap. The damage can significantly reduce coconut production and kill the tree. The beetle is also known to feed on economically important commercial crops such as bananas, sugarcane, papayas, sisal, pineapples, and date palms. The sources of threat are movement of infested compost, mulch, and green waste, bringing infested plants into the United States in passenger baggage, and beetle hitchhiking in international cargo.