U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists at the Calexico cargo facility recently identified a rare pest during an inspection of a shipment. The discovery was made on January 8, 2025, when a shipment containing red and green leaf lettuce arrived at the facility. Following an initial examination, the driver and cargo were referred for a detailed agriculture inspection.
During this process, a CBP agriculture specialist found an unusual insect within the lettuce leaves. The pest was sent to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for further identification. As a precaution, the shipment and driver were returned to Mexico.
On February 5, 2025, it was confirmed that the pest was Campiglossa peregrina, part of the fruit fly family. This species had not been recorded in the USDA pest identification database before, marking this as a first across all U.S. ports. This find underscores CBP’s efforts to prevent invasive species from entering the country.
"Discovering a first-of-its-kind pest in our nation is a remarkable achievement. Our agriculture specialists’ role will continue to aid in safeguarding our environment and agriculture," stated Roque Caza, Port Director for the Area Port of Calexico.
CBP advises travelers and industries wishing to import flowers, plant materials, and other agricultural items to consult the Bringing Agricultural Products into the United States section on their website for guidance on preventing conveyance contamination. Travelers are encouraged to declare all agricultural items upon arrival.
The Director of CBP’s San Diego Field Office can be followed on Twitter at @DFOSanDiegoCA for updates including breaking news and human interest stories.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is recognized as America's frontline: it is both the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. Over 65,000 CBP personnel work to protect America by facilitating safe travel and trade while enhancing national security through various means including innovation and collaboration.
