CHARLESTON, S.C. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialist recently made a significant agriculture interception at the port of Charleston, S.C.
Leaf bug
The discovery is a first time interception of a leaf bug in the continental U.S. In total, six insects and one snail were intercepted as a result of the examination.
The pests were found in a cargo shipment of ceramic tile arriving from Italy. The six insects and one snail were submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for identification.
Final determination
Final determination revealed three of the insects and the snail to be quarantined significant pests.
The leaf bug is a known insect in Alaska and some western provinces of Canada. However, it has not been established in the lower 48 states.
The leaf bug is known to carry disease.
Agriculture industry
If not for this discovery, the leaf bug could have had disastrous effects on the local agriculture industry. The shipment of ceramic tile was sent for fumigation.
Additionally, the leaf bug specimen was sent to the Smithsonian Institution for inclusion in their collection.
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