LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Richard Pauza,

LAREDO, TEXAS – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists at the Laredo Port of Entry intercepted an invasive leaf worm in a commercial flower shipment at the start of Mother’s Day weekend.

 The interception occurred on May 7, 2010 at World Trade Bridge . CBP agriculture specialists were conducting a routine agricultural examination on a commercial shipment of flowers when they discovered a pest within 150 stems of Lisianthus flowers arriving from Mexico . U.S. Department of Agriculture entomologists positively identified the pest as Copitarsia sp., an invasive leaf worm pest not known to occur in the U.S. Once the pest was identified, CBP agriculture specialists referred the shipment to USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service for further action. In an effort to eradicate the pest and prevent possible cross-contamination, USDA APHIS fumigated the entire commercial shipment, which contained 33,362 stems of various flowers including Agapanthus, Alstroemerias, Eucalyptus, birds of paradise, Delphinium, bells of Ireland, Gerbers, sunflowers, gladiolas, roses snapdragons, Solidago, rose bouquets and Lisianthus.  Once successfully treated, the shipment was released.

 “Our CBP agriculture specialists are highly trained and were able to apply their experience and training to pinpoint a Copitarsia larva within a commercial flower shipment, fittingly on Mother’s Day weekend,” said Gene Garza, CBP Port Director, Laredo. “The prevention of the entry of pests such as Copitarsia not only advances the CBP mission but also helps protect American agriculture and the U.S. floral industry from damage from invasive species not known to occur in the U.S. ”