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Entomologists at the US Department of Agriculture have confirmed that US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists at Washington Dulles International Airport intercepted two insect pests that could threaten local agriculture. These insects were found in a shipment of 188 protea and chamelaucium cut-stem flowers imported from South Africa on October 7th, intended for an address in King George County, Virginia.
The discovery is significant as one of the insects had never been seen in the region before, while the other had not been observed locally for 40 years. The CBP agriculture specialists routinely inspect flower imports to ensure they are free of pests that could harm agricultural and environmental resources.
The intercepted insects were identified by a USDA entomologist as Caprhiobia sp. (Lygaeidae) and Oxycarenus maculatus (Protea seed bug). The Caprhiobia sp. is known to occur in South Africa and causes extensive damage to vegetation. This finding was marked as a 'first-in-port' discovery since there were no previous reports of this insect in the region.
