SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico. – US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists discovered a new pest found for the first time in the nation.
On January 4, 2016, while inspecting a shipment of cut flowers from Ecuador at the Luis Munoz Marin Air Cargo facilities in Puerto Rico, a CBP Agriculture Specialist intercepted an uncommon pest. The insect was identified on March 21, 2016 by US Department of Agriculture (USDA) as Prairiana sp. (Cicadellidae), considered an actionable pest and “First Time in Nation” interception.
The insect was found on Hydrangea sp., a species of flowering plants. This insect is an actionable pest and it is the first time it has been found at a United States ports of entry.
CBP Agriculture Specialists issued an Emergency Action Notification and the shipment was destroyed at a CBP/USDA approved facility.
“CBP Agriculture specialists have an important mission in safeguarding the nation’s agriculture”, said Sonja Cruz-Fidalgo, San Juan Supervisory Operations Manager – Agriculture. “This first in port interception demonstrates the vigilance of the agriculture specialists in Puerto Rico and their dedication to detect and prevent foreign invasive plants and plant pests from entering through our ports of entry.”
CBP Agriculture specialists work closely with Animal Plant Health Inspection Services – Plant Protection & Quarantine to protect our nation’s agriculture resources against the introduction of foreign plant pests and animal diseases.
