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  4. CBP Agriculture Specialists Intercept Destructive Beetle Larvae

CBP Agriculture Specialists Intercept Destructive Beetle Larvae

Release Date
Mon, 10/01/2012

Pembina, N.D. - Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists at the Pembina Port detected live larvae found on the outside of a plastic bag of foodstuffs on September 18, 2012. The box was immediately quarantined until the larvae could be positively identified.

The shipment was a person-to-person shipment manifested as clothes and gifts. The specimen was submitted to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regional laboratory for testing. On September 21, 2012, the USDA entomologist identified the pest as Trogoderma granarium Everts (Khapra Beetle). The whole shipment will be seized and destroyed to prevent infestation of the pest.

"The Khapra beetle is a dangerous pest to American agriculture," said CBP Area Port Director Mary Delaquis. "This discovery is an excellent example of how dedicated our agriculture specialists are in protecting our nation's crops and food supply.

The Khapra beetle is an extremely serious pest of grain and other stored products. This pest may also show up in a variety of locations that are not obvious food sources such as burlap bags, corrugated boxes and animal hides. Native to India, Khapra beetle has spread to other countries in Africa, the Middle East, the Near East, pockets of Europe and Eastern Asia. The Khapra beetle is considered one of the world's most destructive pests of grain products and seeds.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021