U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists found a rare pest in a shipment of fresh vegetables at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge on July 7.
Specialists at the Pharr cargo facility conducted an inspection on the commercial shipment which resulted in the discovery of the live pest within boxes of jackfruit.
“Our agriculture specialists help protect American agriculture and contribute to the nation’s economic security by denying entry to invasive species not known to exist in the U.S.,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez in a news release Wednesday.
After the pest was sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture entomology laboratory for identification, the insect was confirmed to be a Cyclocephala forcipulata , a species that belongs to the scarab beetle family found in Mexico.
CBP said it’s the first time this species has been found in the country.
These specific pests can cause agricultural and economic damage because their larvae eat plant roots and adults feed on aerial parts of plants.
The pest has never been discovered in any of the nation’s ports of entry before, according to USDA entomologists.
CBP refused the shipment from entering and was returned to Mexico.
