Romulus, MI – U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists intercepted remains of the khapra beetle, one of the world’s most destructive grain pests, during an inspection at Detroit Metropolitan Airport last spring.
Officials said the discovery occurred on April 18, when a traveler returning from Lebanon was referred for secondary inspection. During the examination, officers found a small bag of undeclared seeds intended for planting. The traveler received a warning and was released, while CBP seized the seeds for further analysis.
Upon closer inspection, agriculture specialists found a single cast skin inside the bag. The specimen was sent for expert review, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture later confirmed it as belonging to the khapra beetle, an insect considered quarantine-significant whether dead or alive.
Fadia Pastilong, CBP’s area port director in Detroit, said the finding underscored the persistent threat posed by invasive species. “Khapra beetle is one of the many significant threats we face at our borders,” Pastilong said. “This particularly destructive insect is known to be extremely difficult to detect, which is why even intercepting a cast skin is a big deal.”
The khapra beetle is notorious for destroying stored grains and seeds, rendering them inedible and inflicting severe economic losses. Its ability to survive for long periods without food and resist many pesticides has made eradication efforts costly and prolonged in the past.
Key points:
- CBP agriculture specialists intercepted remains of a khapra beetle at Detroit Metropolitan Airport
- The specimen was found in undeclared seeds carried by a traveler returning from Lebanon
- The khapra beetle is among the world’s most invasive grain pests and is classified as quarantine-significant by the USDA
Marty C. Raybon, CBP’s director of field operations, urged travelers to declare all agricultural items upon arrival. He emphasized that doing so allows officials to properly screen goods and prevent potential threats from reaching U.S. agriculture and food supplies.
