Record Number of “First in the Nation” and “First in the Port” Destructive Pests in Cut Flowers Intercepted by CBP at LAX

Harmful pests from overseas pose a threat to United States vital agriculture resources

Kikihia angusta (Walker), a cicada from New Zealand feed on plant roots causing damage to trees and bushes.

LOS ANGELES- It has been a busy year for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists assigned to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). They are the frontline in protecting America's vital agriculture resources from foreign harmful pests, animal and plants diseases and bioterrorism.

Since November 2023, CBP agriculture specialists have intercepted a significant number of "first in the nation" "first in the port" invasive pests arriving in shipments of fresh cut flowers from Colombia, India, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, and Tanzania.

Adetaptera ovatula (Bates), a long-horn beetle from Central America, bore into the stem and wood of plants and can be a significant threat to American forest and agriculture.

Among the interceptions were Kikihia angusta (Walker), a cicada from New Zealand, Adetaptera ovatula (Bates), a long-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 species damage plants in a variety of ways. Weevils directly feed on the roots, leaves and fruit of plants. Long horn beetles bore into the stem and wood of plants and can be significant threats to American forest and agriculture. Besides the direct damage Cicadas can do by feeding on plant roots, when they lay their eggs, they can harm young trees and bushes, aphids not only can weaken and kill plants by feeding on the phloem of plants, they also are import vectors of plant diseases.

Weevils directly feed on the roots, leaves and fruit of plants.

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. And each one was deemed actionable and treated under USDA APHIS PPQ supervision.

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

A "first in the nation" determination means, it is the first time the pest was recorded being intercepted at a port of entry or collected being in the country. A "first in the port" determination, means that while this pest has been identified at other ports or has other country records, it is the first time it was record from that port of entry.

Uroleucon jaceae (L.), an aphid from Europe and Central Asia. Aphids not only can weaken and kill plants by feeding on the phloem of plants, they also are import vectors of plant diseases.

"CBP agriculture specialists apply their scientific knowledge every day, they are experts in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, animal science, plant 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 alert trade entities of non-compliance with Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regulations.

The EAN provides options for regulatory enforcement actions that must be taken to prevent the entry of plant pests, prohibited plant products, or animal products capable of introducing foreign animal diseases.

To learn more about CBP's agriculture mission, visit: Protecting Agriculture.

Nationwide on a typical day in 2023, CBP agriculture specialists seize more than 3,287 prohibited plants, meat and animal byproducts and intercept over 231 agricultural pests that could potentially harm America's agricultural resources.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. The 65,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground, in the air, and on the seas. We facilitate safe, lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity. We enhance the nation's security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration, and trust.