Saturday, August 27, 2011

Khapra beetle is no joke

From the Daily News:

[The Khapra beetle] might not look like much, but the pest could wreak agricultural and economic havoc if allowed to infiltrate the U.S.

Native to India, it's considered one of the 100 worst invasive species worldwide and can destroy grains, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

In just the first four months of this year, agents intercepted the beetle 44 times at U.S. ports - more than in all of last year.

The importer is given the choice of having the cargo returned or destroyed.

The beetle was first discovered on our shores in 1953 and the government spent $15 million to eradicate it, according to experts at the University of Florida.

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