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  4. CBP Captures Khapra Beetles in Multiple Interceptions

CBP Captures Khapra Beetles in Multiple Interceptions

Release Date
Thu, 10/04/2018

HOUSTON - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists intercepted Khapra beetles at Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Aug. 31.

CBP agriculture specialists had a busy day at the end of August when they found harmful pests hidden amongst four different travelers’ belongings.  The travelers arrived to IAH from Sudan, India, and Turkey on that hot August day.  Dry fava beans, dry coriander seeds, and dried dates were the unknown culprits carrying live, dead, and cast skin remains of a pest which appeared eerily similar to the Khapra beetle.   

CBP agriculture specialists detected live Khapra beetles, dead beetles and cast skin remains during an examination of passegner baggage at IAH recently.
CBP agriculture specialists detected live, dead
Khapra beetles and cast Khapra beetle skin
remains within the baggage of air passengers
arriving at IAH recently.

“CBP agriculture specialists are well trained and work diligently to prevent this type of pest from entering the U.S. agriculture system,” said Houston Area Port Director Raymond S. Polley.  “Protecting our nation’s agriculture industry is vital and I am proud of the work the CBP agriculture specialists do day in and day out.”

 Khapra beetles are known to be amongst the top 100 worst invasive species in the world.  They are able to live without food for long periods of time and are resistant to many types of insecticides.   They feed on grain and cereal but can eat many other products to survive.  Their introduction to the U.S. agriculture would be devastating.    

All suspected Khapra beetles and cast skins were submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Entomologist for identification.  They were confirmed to be Trogoderma granarium Everts or Khapra beetle.  All remaining pests were destroyed by steam sterilization. 

CBP agriculture specialists have extensive training and experience in the biological sciences and agricultural inspection. On a typical day nationally, they inspect over 1 million people as well as air and sea cargo imported to the United States, intercept 352 agriculture pests and 4,638 prohibited meat, plant materials, animal products, and soil.  Learn what CBP accomplishes on a typical day in fiscal year 2017.

Learn more about CBP’s agriculture protection mission.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021