Earlier this year, customs officers at Detroit Metro Airport had to deal with a quite odd discovery. After failing to respond to inquiries about agriculture and then going through a baggage check, an Italian traveler carrying fresh caper flowers was discovered to be carrying live larvae from a rare fruit fly species.According to WXYZ, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers determined that the larvae belonged to the caper fruit fly, which is an uncommon species that CBP has only detained once in the previous 20 years.
The Oriental fruit fly and the Mediterranean fruit fly are among the infamous group of pests that the caper fruit fly belongs to. These insects have the ability to cause significant economic loss and are regarded as some of the most detrimental to agriculture globally. According to Port Director Fadia Pastilong, “Our CBP officers and agriculture specialists work hand-in-hand to stop potential threats before they have the potential to cause economic damage,” she told CBS News Detroit.
A expert at the USDA Systemic Entomology Laboratory verified the identify of the larvae after additional research. These larvae’s capture highlights the vital work CBP and USDA perform to safeguard America’s agriculture, which is constantly threatened by invasive species. Travelers are being reminded of their part in this defense effort, according to a CBP press release via WWJ Newsradio. People are urged to declare all food and agricultural products when they enter the United States and to check the “Know Before You Go” website for information on what is allowed.
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