Agriculture specialists with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Veterans International Bridge in Brownsville, Texas, have made a significant discovery. On March 13, during a detailed examination of a shipment of palm foliage, CBP agriculture specialists identified a rare pest known as Diabrotica sexmaculata Baly. This pest is recognized as an actionable threat and was detected for the first time in the Brownsville Port of Entry.
Port Director Tater Ortiz of the Brownsville Port of Entry highlighted the importance of the work conducted by agriculture specialists: “The work performed by CBP agriculture specialists at our ports of entry plays an important part in safeguarding our American agriculture by preventing the dissemination of pests and animal and plant diseases.”
Diabrotica is a genus of beetles within the Chrysomelidae family, with some species known as corn rootworms due to their destructive nature in agriculture. Diabrotica sexmaculata Baly, first identified in 1879, is found in Guatemala and Mexico.
Following the discovery, the shipment of palm foliage was returned to Mexico.
To stay updated on similar developments, follow the Director of CBP’s Laredo Field Office on X at @DFOLaredo, on Instagram at @dfolaredo, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection at @CBPSouthTexas.
CBP stands as America's frontline and the world's first unified border management agency, with over 65,000 personnel dedicated to protecting the U.S. across various terrains and facilitating secure trade—crucial for economic prosperity and national security.
