55,000 Pounds Of Cumin Seeds To Be Returned After Pest Infestation

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Approximately 55,000 pounds of cumin seeds shipped to the Port of Baltimore will be re-exported after specialists find the seeds infested with Khapra Beetle larvae.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says their agriculture specialists made the discovery on Monday.

Officials say the shipment didn't contain any live larvae, but specialists did collect a specimen of dead larvae and sealed the container.

The specimen was then forwarded to the U.S. Department of Agriculture who confirmed it as Trogoderma granarium, most commonly known as Khapra Beetle.

Khapra Beetle is considered one of the world's most destructive insect pests of grains, cereals and stored foods.

"Khapra Beetle is one of the most invasive insects CBP agriculture specialists encounter," said Dianna Bowman, CBP Area Port Director for Baltimore. "And we take our mission to intercept these destructive pests and protect America's agricultural industry very seriously."

Officials say the beetle is labeled as a "dirty feeder" because it damagers more grain than it consumes.

The contaminants may cause gastrointestinal irritation in adults and especially sicken infants.

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