CBP intercepts ‘world’s most invasive grain pest’ khapra beetle at Detroit airport

Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists have intercepted the “world’s most invasive grain pest,” remains of a khapra beetle, at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport.CBP intercepted the shed skin of the beetle at the airport last April, Michigan News Source reported. The agency announced the interception Wednesday.
On April 18, a traveler returning from Lebanon underwent a secondary inspection for an agricultural examination, during which specialists discovered in the person’s luggage a small bag of undeclared seeds intended for planting. CBP seized the seeds, issued a warning to the traveler for failing to declare agricultural items, and released the person.
Specialists found, through closer examination, a cast skin in the bag and identified the specimen as a khapra beetle.
“Khapra beetle is one of the many significant threats we face at our borders,” Area Port Director Fadia Pastilong said. “This particularly destructive insect is known to be extremely difficult to detect, which is why even intercepting a cast skin is a big deal.”
Because the khapra beetle is an invasive species, it is one of several insects the U.S. Department of Agriculture considers quarantine-significant, whether it is dead or alive. Infestations of the beetle in stored products can cause them to become inedible when the beetle enters warehouses or granaries, and can rapidly devastate the nation’s agricultural economy.

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