According to El Financiero, agricultural specialists from the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) made an unusual discovery at the border with Sonora. A pest species not previously identified in the country, Osbornellus salsus, was detected in a shipment of radicchio from Mexico.
The finding took place during a routine inspection at the Port of San Luis. During the procedure, officers collected a specimen of the insect and sent it to an entomologist from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA's National Identification Service confirmed the species and verified that this was the first recorded interception of Osbornellus salsus in the United States.
Although the detection was contained, it has drawn attention due to its potential implications for agriculture and cross-border trade if the insects were to spread. Osbornellus salsus belongs to the Cicadellidae family, a group of small sap-feeding insects that feed on plants, trees, and shrubs. Some members of this family can transmit plant diseases, making such findings a matter of phytosanitary and commercial concern.
Following CBP and USDA protocols, the affected shipment was detained and returned to Mexico. The measure aims to prevent the entry of exotic species into the United States agricultural ecosystem.
"CBP agriculture specialists are highly trained to detect harmful pests. They do an excellent job determining the admissibility of agricultural products," said Guadalupe RamÃrez, Director of Field Operations for the Tucson Office. She added, "We have an excellent working relationship with our USDA partners, and together we protect the country from diverse and constantly evolving threats, including invasive pests that could harm US agricultural resources."
Source: elfinanciero.com.mx
