GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Agriculture specialists with U.S. Customs and Border Safety confirmed that uncommon invasive seed bugs had been intercepted on undeclared cargo late final 12 months at Detroit Metro Airport.
Native CBP and officers with the U.S. Division of Agriculture confirmed the bugs had been a species often called Orsillus maculatus.
The seed bugs, which develop as much as a half-inch in size, are most usually present in southern Europe and components of the Center East. There are not any recognized populations inside america. CBP has data of simply two different cases the place the insect was intercepted on the border: in Dallas in 1998 and in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 2018.
Based on CBP, the bugs had been discovered on recent cypress cones transported by a passenger from Jordan who was heading to Ohio. Some cultures use the cones for medicinal functions.
“In Europe and the Mediterranean Basin, direct feeding on cypress seeds has been shown to cause significant damage to cypress plantations and stands,” the CBP stated in a information launch. “In addition to this, these bugs carry fungal spores on their bodies, which spread as they move about.”
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The seed bugs desire cypress bushes however have additionally been noticed feeding on conifer bushes. Each are outstanding throughout the Midwestern United States and are key to enhancing water high quality, stopping flooding and lowering erosion. Additionally they present worthwhile timber.
The CBP says American cypress and conifer populations would have a low genetic resistance to the non-native pests.
“This was an excellent discovery by our CBP agriculture specialists,” Port Director Fadia Pastilong stated in a press release. “We must be cognizant of all threats in the border environment, large and small.”
