TUCSON – For the first time ever, a U.S. Department of Agriculture entomologist confirmed an invasive insect, Polyamia delongi, was found by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agricultural specialist at the Port of Nogales on December 9.
Polyamia delongi is not known to exist in the Western Hemisphere.
During the inspection, a live adult specimen was discovered and forwarded to a USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Plant Protection and Quarantine entomologist who confirmed the finding.
CBP issued an Emergency Action Notification to the importer, and following fumigation protocol procedures, the shipment was released into U.S. commerce.
“CBP agriculture specialists are highly-trained. They do an excellent job in determining the admissibility of agriculture commodities,” said Assistant Director of Field Operations Armando Goncalvez, Tucson Field Office in a press release. “We have a great working relationship with our USDA partners, and together we protect the nation from a variety of evolving dynamic threats such as invasive pests that could harm the United States’ agriculture resources.”