The Khapra Beetle larvae was discovered at the Port of Baltimore inside a 55,000-pound shipment of cumin seed from India.
A 55,000-pound shipment of cumin seed from India infested with Khapra Beetle larvae was discovered at the Port of Baltimore Monday by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations agriculture specialists, CBP said.
An entomologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed the specimen of larvae to be a Trogoderma granarium, commonly known as a Khapra Beetle.
No live larvae was discovered, but the importer was issued an Emergency Action Notice requiring the shipment of cumin seed to be re-exported.
The Khapra Beetle, which is the only insect that CBP takes regulatory action against even while in a dead state, is one of the world’s most destructive insect pests of grains, cereals and stored foods.
The insect can cause gastrointestinal irritation in adults and is especially hazardous to infants.
In addition, the Khapra Beetle is very resilient with its ability to tolerate insecticides and fumigants, along with having the capability to survive for extended periods without food.
Previous infestations of the Khapra Beetle resulted in long-term control and eradication efforts that were very costly to American taxpayers, according to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
“California implemented extensive eradication measures following a Khapra Beetle infestation discovered there in 1953,” CBP said. “The effort was deemed successful, but at a cost of approximately $11 million. Calculated in today’s dollars, that would be about $90 million.”
CBP finds destructive larvae inside shipment of cumin seed
