CBP Intercepts Cereal Killer

Khapra Beetle Devours Dry Grain, Rice, Other Food Matter

(Monday, October 24, 2011)

Houston – U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists intercepted what the agriculture industry labels as one of the most invasive and destructive pests – the Khapra beetle at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, October 17.

A CBP Agriculture K9 alerted to a shipment of personal affects arriving from Saudi Arabia. CBP agriculture specialists examined the shipment and intercepted several dead beetles and cast skins found in a bag of melon seeds.

Agriculture specialists sent the specimens to the local Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Identifiers (APHIS) for identification, and determined the specimens to be Trogoderma granarium Everts (Dermestidae) or Khapra beetle.

“Protecting our nation’s agriculture industry from invasive plant pests and diseases is one of our many priorities,â€