Texas
Contact Information

Department of Agriculture
Plant Protection Laws and Regulations Economic Fact Sheet
Cooperative Extension Service

  • State Plant Regulatory Official

    Awinash Bhatkar (512) 463-5025

    Serves on the National Plant Board, oversees state pest detection and regulatory activities and coordinates survey activities between government agencies, public and private organizations. Coordinates the state's initial emergency response if an exotic pest is detected.

  • State Survey Coordinator

    Awinash Bhatkar (512) 463-5025

    Coordinates CAPS survey planning, execution and reporting as well as community outreach activities.

  • State Plant Health Director

    Stuart Kuehn (512) 916-5241

    Directs federal APHIS-PPQ pest detection and regulatory activities in cooperation with state officials, and coordinate the initial PPQ emergency response if an exotic pest is detected in the state.

  • Pest Survey Specialist

    Carol Motloch (254) 751-0605
    Provides technical support in planning, executing and reporting annual surveys and coordinates pest detection activities with neighboring states.

News
Soybean Cyst Nematode
Invasive Crazy Ants Are Displacing Fire Ants in Areas Throughout Southeastern U.S.
Stripe Rust Detected in Southeast Kansas
Fire Ants Continue Destructive March
Grasshopper Control Before Cotton Best During Winter Weed Burndown
Show Fire Ants Who Is In Charge Of Your Lawn
APHIS Allows the Movement of Fruit Regulated for Sweet Orange Scab...Under Certain Conditions
Wheat Farmers - Look Out for Rust
Invasive Species of the Day Series
Great Time to Treat for Fire Ants
Upcoming Class Teaches How to Combat Oak Wilt
Ants and Electrical Equipment
Tips for Handling Stubborn Fire Ants
Best Defense Against Fire Ants May Be Allergy Shot Offense
National Invasive Species Awareness Week to Focus on Prevention ...
New Control Strategies for Bipolar Bark Beetles
Fire Ant Webinars 2013
Fire Ants - A prize winning graphic novella
Fire Ant Stings
Climate Change to Cripple Southwestern Forests
ARS Project: Efficacy of Citrus Canker Control Strategies, Leafminer ...
Travelers face holiday flower restrictions
Miracle Plants or Noxious Weeds - EPA Weighs Status of Invasive Species
US-Mexico Border Report Critical Of Port Staffing
Dangerous Insect May Have Been Imported Into Colorado
NAPPO - Mexican fruit fly eradicated in Texas
Citrus greening quarantine expands
How to Tackle Pesky Fire Ant Colonies
APHIS Publishes Citrus Greening-Asian Citrus Psyllid Regulated Areas and Movement Restrictions
APHIS Removes Regulated Areas in Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy Counties, Tx for the Mexican Fruit Fly
Economics of Invasive Species on Rangelands
The ongoing psyllid battle
Website Focuses On Invasive Water Weeds
Salt Cedar Beetle Damage Widespread After Warm Summer
Psyllid-killing wasp taking hold
Invasive 'Rasberry Crazy Ant' in Texas Now Identified Species
Fire Ants In Hay - YouTube
Research Proposal 2012 Laurel Wilt
ARS | Publication request: Asian citrus psyllid tolerance to heat
Pest Fighting Nematodes Identified
Abdominal color of Diaphorina citri, is associated with susceptibility to insecticides
Locals Join Fight To Save The Honey Bee
The buzz on native bee species
Fire Ant Home Remedies Often Really Urban Myths
Fire Ant Quarantines and Regulations
APHIS Establishes Citrus Greening Regulated Area in TX, Updates the Movement of Regulated Articles
Honeybees Among Collateral Damage In West Nile Spraying
Hay Shipments and Fire Ants - Arkansas Livestock
Fighting Exotics With Exotics
More Grasshoppers Arrive in the Borderland
Grasshopper Problems Likely to get Worse
Beetle Released In Texas To Combat Invasive Weeds
Agents Prevent Entry of Fruit Fly Larvae
Grasshopper Invasion
Detection of South American Palm Weevil in Texas
Dying Trees in Southwest Set Stage for Erosion, Water Loss in the Colorado River
1 Hemlock woolly adelgid: Predator lab update By Mary Topa ...
Bee-Killing Virus Gets Supercharged by Mites
Worry about Grasshoppers and Honeybees
Producers Encouraged To Scout and Treat Fields For Grasshoppers
Invasive Ant Species Causing Concern in Central Texas
Non-Native Tree-Killing Beetle Could be Heading to Texas
Key Wheat Lines Hit by New Strain of Rust
New invasive ant species spotted in Round Rock
Africanized Bee vs. Honey Bee
Mexican Fruit Fly - APHIS Establishes Quarantine Area in the San Benito Area of Cameron County, TX
Spinach genes beef up citrus trees' resistance to greening
Boll Weevil Eradicated - YouTube
Wheat Farmers Cautioned About Disease Potential
The Decline of the Box Turtle
Quarantine to be Issued to Control Mexican Fruit Fly in Lower Rio Grande Valley
Texas Officials Hope They have Caught Citrus Greening Early
The Evils of the Garden Fire Ants
Mild Winter Gives Insects an Early Start
Customs agents ever alert for tiny citrus-killing bugs
Tree Damaging Insects Intercepted at Laredo International Crossings
Emerald Ash Borer Trapping Procedures 2012
UT Study to Reduce Fire Ant Population by Creating Zombie Ants
Texans Recommend Fruit Fly Eradication Program
Fire Ants a Nuisance in Garden
New Fire Ant Report from Planet Amazing Shows Solutions for Texas Epidemic
Fire Ant Population Thriving
Quarantine Noose Remains Tight on Texas Valley Citrus
Citrus Industry eNews: Disease-Detecting Dogs; Cost of HLB
Texas Steps Up Citrus Greening Defense
Are there fire ants native to North America?
Imported Fire Ants Community Page
TDA extends citrus quarantine, schedules meeting with Valley growers
APHIS Confirms Citrus Greening in Texas
Texas Confirms First Case of Citrus Greening in Orange Grove
Texas experts hope citrus greening disease is not widespread
Citrus growers could enlist RNAi technology to fight psyllids
Removal of Mexican Fruit Fly Quarantine Area in Hidalgo Texas
Researchers moving nearer solutions for greening disease
Mexican Fruit fly Eradicated in the United States - NAPPO
Pyrokinin Beta-Neuropeptide Affects Necrophoretic Behavior in Fire ...
Giant Weed Creates Threat to Ecosystems and Border Security
Taking a Stand Against the Emerald Ash Borer in Texas ...
Four Things to Know if you are Giving Citrus this Season
Fire Ants Conquered America by Monopolising Calorie Rich Food
SHSU Chosen Invasive Species Research Center
Fall is Good Time to Hunt Gypsy Moth Eggs
Silent Invaders Include Weeds Worms and Mussels
Asian Gypsy Moth Egg Masses Detected on Two Vessels at South Texas Port
APHIS Revises Approved Packinghouse Procedures for Sweet Orange Scab
Bolt Your Door Invasive Species Attacking Texas
Mexican Fruit Fly Removal of Quarantine Area in Cameron County TX
Mexican Fruit Fly Removal of Quarantine Area in Cameron County TX - NAPPO
Status of European Pepper Moth
A Hopping Problem Affecting East Texans
Pesky Water Plant Could Treat Cancer SFA Researchers Say
PPQ Postentry Quarantine (PEQ) Release Policy
Native Ants Use Chemical Weapons to Turn Back Invading Argentine Ants
Grasshoppers Making East Texas Ranchers Hopping Mad
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request on South American Cactus Moth Quarantine and Regulations
Pink Bollworm Rearing Facility Visit USDA Blog
Establishment of a New Mexican Fruit Fly Quarantine in the Bayview Area of Cameron County TX NAPPO
USDA Permits Limited Shipments From Citrus Quarantine Areas
Mexican Fruit Fly Establishment of a New Quarantine Area in the Bayview Area of Cameron County TX
Ferry Tale Fire Ants Aggregate into Living Rafts to Escape Floods
Texas on Alert for Prickly Pear Pest
2011 EBIPM Field School
APHIS Adds Conditions to Allow Fruit Movement into or through States Regulated for Sweet Orange Scab
Fire Ant Activity Appears to Drop
Availability of an Environmental Assessment of a Biological Control Agent for Air Potato
Federal Import Quarantine Order to Prohibit Australian Bees
Federal Order Quarantine Areas Established for Sweet Orange Scab
Quarantine Areas Established for Sweet Orange Scab
LCRA to Lower Lake Austin Water Level

Related Pages

Weed Identification Tool
Southern Plant Diagnostic Network
Department of Entomology
Texas Boll Weevil Eradiction Program
Aggie Cotton Connection
Great Plains Diagnostic Network
Invasive Plants in Southern Forests
PPQ Citrus Greening Alert
National Ash Tree Seed Collection Initiative
Two step method for Fire Ant control
Texas Invasives
EPPO Data Sheet
FDAC Exotic Fruit Fly Information
Lucid Keys - Hosts and Potential Hosts of Citrus Pests and Diseases
Noxious Weeds and Water-Conserving Landscapes
Enhancing efficacy of Mexican fruit fly SIT ... - Wiley Online Library
Workers Comp Claims from Spiders, Bees, Fire Ants, Fleas, Mosquitoes, Bedbugs ...
Olfactory Responses of the Asiatic Citrus Psyllid (Diaphorina citri) to ...
Texas Parks and Wildlife
Texas Department of Agriculture Pest and Disease Alerts
Other Impacts of Fire Ants
Drought in 2001-2002 Fueled Rocky Mountain Pine Beetle Outbreak
TAMU Fact Sheet
History of the Boll Weevil Eradication Program
Fact Sheet: Mediterranean fruit fly | Citrus Pests
Management Options of Fire Ants for Electrical Equipment and Utility Housings
Invasives Watch
Oak Wilt and Tree Selection Program
Videos

Biological Control: The War on Saltcedar
Exotic Fruit Fly Monitoring
Oak Wilt Treatment

CAPS 2013 Survey Targets   
Common Name Scientific Name Destinations
Bacterial Blight Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae Pest Info | NAPIS Maps
Bacterial Leaf Streak Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola Pest Info | NAPIS Maps
Bronze Birch Borer Agrilus anxius Pest Info | NAPIS Maps
Cotton Cutworm Spodoptera litura Pest Info | NAPIS Maps
Cucurbit Beetle Diabrotica speciosa Pest Info | NAPIS Maps
Egyptian Cottonworm Spodoptera littoralis Pest Info | NAPIS Maps
European Chestnut Weevil Curculio elephas Pest Info | NAPIS Maps
European Oak Bark Beetle Scolytus intricatus Pest Info | NAPIS Maps
False Codling Moth Thaumatotibia leucotreta Pest Info | NAPIS Maps
Giant African Snail Lissachatina fulica Pest Info | NAPIS Maps
Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana Pest Info | NAPIS Maps
Hibiscus (Pink) Mealybug Maconellicoccus hirsutus Pest Info | NAPIS Maps
Japanese Wax Scale Ceroplastes japonicus Pest Info | NAPIS Maps
Oak Ambrosia Beetle Platypus quercivorus Pest Info | NAPIS Maps
Old World Bollworm Helicoverpa armigera Pest Info | NAPIS Maps
Passionvine Mealybug Planococcus minor Pest Info | NAPIS Maps
Quetta Borer Aeolesthes sarta Pest Info | NAPIS Maps
Rice Stem Nematode Ditylenchus angustus Pest Info | NAPIS Maps
Rosy Moth Lymantria mathura Pest Info | NAPIS Maps
South American Palm Weevil Rhynchophorus palmarum Pest Info | NAPIS Maps
Summer Fruit Tortrix Moth Adoxophyes orana Pest Info | NAPIS Maps
Tremex Woodwasp Tremex fuscicornis Pest Info | NAPIS Maps
Variegated Golden Tortrix Archips xylosteanus Pest Info | NAPIS Maps