HOUSTON -- Look out, Houston – the mealybugs are here.

Entomologists with the Texas Department of Agriculture have identified bugs found at homes in Pearland and southwest Houston as pink hibiscus mealybugs.

Mealybugs are pests that can cause extensive damage to a wide variety of crops including citrus, sugarcane, vegetables and various trees and ornamental plants.

The TDA collected 20 samples from around the home in Pearland, and 6 of those were confirmed as mealybugs.

They plan to do the same in the area around the home in southwest Houston.

John Teas from Bellaire's Teas Nursery has been tending plants for 51 years and knows about this new invader.

“It blows in the air and can catch on your clothes.  You could carry it somewhere else and not know that you're being a host,” said Teas.

Once infestation is determined, inspectors plan to fight the pests with parasitic wasps.

AgriLife Extension photo

A female mealybug with eggs is pictured in this AgriLife photo.

Research indicates the wasps are the best method to control mealybugs with a 90-percent success rate.

“The wasp lays its eggs in the mealybug and the mealy bug is tiny, so the wasp can't be very big to do that,” said Teas.

If you think you have mealybugs, check out the AgriLife Extension Service Web site for information on how to identify the pests.

Homeowners who have mealybugs are advised to avoid using insecticides, as they could harm beneficial insects and are largely ineffective against meaybugs.

Homeowners are instead advised to prune off the most infested plant parts, place them in sealed bags and throw them away.