Customs Agents Seize 'Destructive' Khapra Beetles At LA Port
LOS ANGELES (AP) — U.S. customs agents have caught some bad bugs in Southern California.
Authorities say agriculture specialists intercepted five Khapra beetle larvae and two dead adults late last month. The larvae were in a shipment of basmati rice from India that was stopped at Los Angeles International Airport.
The dead adult beetles were in a shipment of beans from the United Arab Emirates that was entering the Los Angeles-Long Beach port complex.
The Khapra beetle is considered one of the world's most destructive pests. It eats grains and seeds and can survive for long periods in hot, dry conditions.
Customs officials say they've made 190 Khapra beetle interceptions at U.S. entry ports this year, compared to 37 last year.
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