It has been a busy twelvemonth for U.S. Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) husbandry specialists assigned to Los Angeles International Airport ( LAX ) . They are the frontline in protect America ’s lively agriculture resources from strange harmful pestis , animal and plants disease and biological terrorism .

Since November 2023 , CBP agriculture specialist have intercept a substantial number of " first in the nation " " first in the port wine " invasive pestis arrive in shipments of new cut flowers from Colombia , India , the Netherlands , New Zealand , Portugal , and Tanzania .

Among the interception were Kikihia angusta ( Walker ) , a cicada from New Zealand , Adetaptera ovatula ( Bates ) , a long - motor horn beetle from Central America , Zorion guttigerum ( Westwood ) , a long - horn beetle from New Zealand , Uroleucon jaceae ( L. ) , an aphid from Europe and Central Asia , and Steirarhinus depressicollis ( Gyllenhal ) a weevil from South and Central America .

These mintage damage plant in a variety of ways . Weevils flat fertilise on the root , leaves and fruit of plants . Long horn beetles bore into the stem and Mrs. Henry Wood of plants and can be significant threats to American woodland and Agriculture Department . Besides the direct damage Cicadas can do by feeding on plant ascendant , when they pose their bollock , they can harm young trees and bushes , aphids not only can counteract and bolt down plants by feed on the phloem of plants , they also are importation transmitter of industrial plant diseases .

Area Identifiers and National Specialists from USDA ’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services , Plant Protection and Quarantine ’s National Identification Services ( NIS ) and the Agriculture Research Service ’s Systematic Entomology Laboratory ( SEL ) in Los Angeles and Washington , D.C. identified these species . Each one was deemed actionable and treated under USDA APHIS PPQ supervision .

" These invasive coinage are among the many threats to American agriculture and natural resources , " say Cheryl M. Davies , CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles . " Through targeting , sleuthing , and interception , CBP agriculture specialists work to prevent these threats from entering the United States . "

A " first in the nation " finding means it is the first time the pest was recorded being intercepted at a port of unveiling or collected in the country . A " first in the port " finding , means that while this pest has been key out at other port or has other country records , it is the first sentence it was recorded from that port of entry .

" CBP agriculture specialist apply their scientific cognition every day , they are expert in biologic skill , agriculture , natural imagination management , animal scientific discipline , works science , and pest management , " said Andrew H. Douglas , CBP LAX Port Director .

During the same period , CBP agriculture specialists at LAX issued 3,056 Emergency Action Notifications ( EANs ) . EANs warning signal trade entity of non - compliance with Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service ( APHIS ) rule .

The EAN provides options for regulatory enforcement actions that must be admit to prevent the entry of plant pests , proscribe plant mathematical product , or animal product capable of precede foreign animal diseases .

To study more about CBP ’s Agriculture Department mission , visit : protect Agriculture .

Source : Homeland Security Today

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