DETROIT – A rare invasive species of locust was intercepted by U.S. Customs agents during a cargo inspection at the Port of Detroit.
Agriculture specialists working for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection said an Egyptian locust, most commonly found in Europe, was found during container inspections at a local railyard in September.
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The discovery took place during examination of inbound cargo from Italy and the specimen was positively identified by CBP and U.S. Department of Agriculture officials.
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The container was quarantined and subsequently fumigated before the cargo was allowed to safely enter U.S. commerce. CBP said they believe it’s the third time the Port of Detroit has encountered the Egyptian locust.
The species of locust is a voracious leaf feeder and poses a threat to numerous crops found in Michigan, to include grapevines and various vegetable plants.
“This interception demonstrates the importance of protecting our food supply and the challenging mission of CBP agriculture specialist at our ports of entry,” said John Nowak, Acting Port Director for the Port of Detroit. “Not only do agriculture specialists work hard to intercept invasive insects and plants, but they also play a critical role in stopping the increased threat of biological agents that could seriously harm our citizens and livestock.”
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