A specimen of Bulia schausi Richards, a first-in-the-nation pest, was intercepted by CBP agriculture specialists in Pharr, Texas.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists at two South Texas ports of entry recently intercepted a first-in-the-nation pest and a first-time port interception of a particular pest within commercial produce shipments.

“Our nation’s food supply is constantly at risk from pests not known to occur in the U.S.” said David P. Higgerson, director of field operations at the Laredo Field Office. “These two significant pest interceptions by our agriculture specialists in Pharr and Rio Grande City exemplify CBP’s continued commitment to safeguarding American agriculture.”

A specimen of Myodocha unispinosa Stål intercepted by CBP agriculture specialists in Rio Grande City.

One interception occurred on November 10, 2014 at the Rio Grande City International Bridge. A CBP agriculture specialist conducting an intensive examination on a commercial shipment of ginger discovered the pest. Later, a USDA entomologist confirmed that the pest was Myodocha unispinosa Stål, a pest not known to occur in the U.S. This is a first-time interception of this pest at the Rio Grande City Port of Entry. Given the pest finding, the shipment was refused entry and re-exported back to Mexico.

The other interception occurred on November 4, 2014 at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge. A CBP agriculture specialist examining a commercial shipment of broccoli encountered a live pest on the trailer floor. After an initial identification at the Los Indios Plant Inspection Station, a USDA entomologist in Washington positively identified the pest as Bulia schausi Richards. This is a first-time interception of this pest in the U.S.

Bulia schausi is a moth of the Noctuidae family found in Northwestern Mexico. It is an invasive species not known to exist in the U.S. that poses a threat to American agriculture. Due to the pest discovery, CBP refused entry and the broccoli shipment was re-exported back to Mexico.

Read more at:

– South Texas U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialists Intercept Significant Pests