Florida, Maryland CBP Team to Mitigate Destructive Pest Threat

BALTIMORE – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists in Jacksonville, Florida and in Baltimore teamed up recently to mitigate a serious economic threat posed by a beetle. This wasn’t just any beetle; it was Trogoderma granarium Everts, commonly known as Khapra beetle, one of the world’s most destructive insect pests.

While inspecting the M/V Green Ridge, a 650-foot vehicle carrier, February 4, Jacksonville CBP agriculture specialists discovered one live suspected Khapra beetle larvae and many caste skins in a dry goods store room. CBP collected the specimens, sealed the store room and permitted the vessel to transit to Baltimore while the U.S. Department of Agriculture entomologist identified the pest.

The USDA entomologist confirmed the larvae as Khapra beetle February 6. On the same day, Jacksonville CBP agriculture specialists issued an Emergency Action Notification requiring the vessel be fumigated. Baltimore CBP agriculture specialists boarded the vessel and notified the ship’s captain that cargo offloading was suspended until the fumigation could be completed. Fumigation completed on Saturday and cargo operations commenced Monday.

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