Fear Of Khapra Beetle Leads To Rice Importation Quarantine

DETROIT (WWJ) -Fears over the crop-eating Khapra beetle spreading to the U.S.is prompting U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to enforce a new federal quarantine restricting the importation of rice from countries containing the insect infestations.

"These include Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Cyprus, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Morocco, and Nigeria," said Ron Smith Spokesman from Detroit's U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.

Smith says the last time one of these pests was discovered, was not in a shipment, but in Port Huron,  back in June, when a family was returning from vacation and had their luggage searched.

Reports have stated previous detection of the Khapra beetle have resulted in massive, long term-control and eradication efforts at great cost to the American taxpayer.

Established infestations are difficult to control because the beetle can survive without food for long periods of time, requires little moisture, hides in tiny cracks and crevices, and is relatively resistant to many insecticides and fumigants.

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