Texas shares a 1,254-mile border with Mexico and operates some of the busiest ports of entry in the country, making it one of the most vulnerable states for invasive pest introductions. Climate conditions across the state — from humid Gulf Coast to arid West Texas — allow a wide range of non-native species to establish permanent populations once they arrive. We track confirmed sightings, USDA quarantine zones, and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension advisories so you can identify threats early and take action before colonies establish.
Invasive pests cause an estimated $120 billion in annual damage across the U.S., according to USDA APHIS. In Texas specifically, the Rasberry crazy ant (Nylanderia fulva) has caused millions in electrical infrastructure damage in the Houston metro area since 2002. The red imported fire ant costs Texas agriculture roughly $1.2 billion per year. Early detection and rapid response are critical — once an invasive species reaches reproductive threshold, eradication becomes exponentially more expensive and often impossible. Our coverage focuses on species with active spread patterns in or toward Texas, backed by data from USDA, Texas Parks & Wildlife, and peer-reviewed entomological research.
1 article in this category
Texas livestock producers must prepare as New World screwworm moves closer to the U.S.-Mexico border, potentially arriving this summer. Expert guidance from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.