CBP agriculture specialists intercept rare pest at port of entry

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists recently found a rare invasive pest known as Cerambycidae in a shipment of Persian limes at the Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry in Texas.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) entomologists report that the pest, a member of the insect family commonly referred to as the longhorn beetle, has never been identified at a U.S. port of entry. After finding the pest on May 20, CBP agents refused the shipment of limes, returning it to Mexico.

“I want to congratulate our agriculture specialists for their continued dedication and their attention to detail which resulted in the interception of a rare, first in nation pest,” Carlos Rodriguez, port director of the Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry, said. “Their outstanding work helps to foster America’s economic security by helping protect American agriculture from adverse impact by invasive species not known to exist in the U.S.”

CBP agriculture specialists inspect millions of pounds of produce, flowers, herbs and other imports at ports of entry for invasive species each year. CBP agents are also on the lookout for agro-terrorism and illegal food and beverage imports at U.S. ports of entry.