A fast-spreading invasive insect is raising new concerns for Texas ranchers as experts warn it could threaten millions of acres of pastureland that support the state's cattle industry.

The pasture mealybug, first confirmed in Texas in 2025, has now been found in 70 counties and continues spreading rapidly, according to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

The tiny insect feeds on common warm-season grasses, including Bermuda grass, Bahia grass, bluestems and johnsongrass, all of which are critical food sources for cattle and other grazing livestock.