U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agriculture specialists discovered a rare pest while inspecting a cargo shipment last month containing pocket leaves at the Otay Mesa cargo facility in San Diego, California.
The driver and cargo were referred to an intensive agriculture inspection during the initial assessment of the shipment. The rare pest was identified as Rhabdotalebra signata, a moth-like species known as a “leaf jumper” native to Central America.
The species had never been recorded in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s pest identification database, qualifying this rare find as the first across all national ports.
According to the USDA, leaf jumpers threaten U.S. agriculture because they can eat large amounts of leaves and transmit diseases and plagues.
“It is truly a remarkable achievement discovering a first-of-its-kind pest in our nation. Our agriculture specialists’ role will continue to aid in safeguarding our environment and agriculture,” stated Rosa Hernandez, Otay Mesa Port Director.
After submitting the insect to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, agriculture, the driver and cargo were returned to Mexico.
While many products grown in Mexico enter the U.S., most require a permit and are subject to inspection. CBP agricultural specialists work to prevent threats such as invasive species, and toxic substances that threaten America’s agriculture and natural resources from entering the U.S.
Specialists have extensive training and experience in the biological sciences and agricultural inspections, inspecting tens of thousands of international passengers and cargo shipments at our air, land, and sea ports of entry.
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