WEBVTT

00:00:06.215 --> 00:00:10.822
>> It's critical that I make these identifications very rapidly

00:00:10.822 --> 00:00:14.162
because we want to prevent any future potential pests

00:00:14.162 --> 00:00:17.493
like the emerald ash borer or the Asian longhorn beetle

00:00:17.493 --> 00:00:21.184
from becoming established in the United States.

00:00:21.184 --> 00:00:26.573
Many of these beetles, even if they're not major pests in their native countries,

00:00:26.573 --> 00:00:28.884
once they come into the U.S.,

00:00:28.884 --> 00:00:34.317
they may not have the same natural predators or controls.

00:00:34.317 --> 00:00:38.806
They may even exhibit a completely different biology once they come into the U.S.,

00:00:38.806 --> 00:00:45.439
so we want to prevent that and the way to prevent that is by early recognition,

00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:52.678
which is why it's so critical that that CBP personnel find these things early on,

00:00:52.678 --> 00:00:58.776
get them to the port identifiers who then transmit the specimens to us as quickly as possible.

00:00:58.776 --> 00:01:04.244
This is the only way to prevent further introductions.

00:01:04.244 --> 00:01:09.336
And this is really the frontline of attack that we have to use.

00:01:09.336 --> 00:01:16.167
It is critical that I do my identifications as quickly and accurately as possible,

00:01:16.167 --> 00:01:20.350
because that's going to be transmitted back to the ports

00:01:20.350 --> 00:01:25.149
where the CBP personnel first found the specimen.

00:01:25.149 --> 00:01:31.446
And they want to know now, is it safe to let that cargo in that's associated with that,

00:01:31.446 --> 00:01:36.913
in the case there could be perishables; oranges or whatever.

00:01:36.913 --> 00:01:41.525
Any delay in this will cost millions of dollars.