U.S. agricultural officials are expressing alarm at the dramatic increase in the interception of the deadly Indian khapra beetle, considered among the world’s 100 deadliest pests, in imported food.
The bug has been intercepted 100 times nationwide so far this year, compared to an average of 15 times in 2007-2009, most recently in bags of rice at Chicago’s Ohare Airport. The U.S. is restricting the importation of rice from countries, such as India, with known khapra infestations.
In 1953, the discovery of khapra beetles in California led to a 13-year long eradication effort that lasted 13 years and cost millions.