U.S. raises defenses against beetle threat

U.S. raises defenses against beetle threat    Agriculture inspection officers have intercepted 44 Khapra beetles at U.S. ports so far this year, exceeding the total number of interceptions in 2010, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
   The interceptions have been made in passenger terminals at airports and at seaports in cities such as San Francisco, New York, Houston and Chicago.
   Officials say they began an initiative to increase training for agriculture specialists, in conjunction with the Agriculture Department's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, after noticing an increased trend in detections of the destructive pest.
   The Khapra beetle is very harmful to stored products like grain. It is difficult to control once it is introduced into a region because it feeds on a variety of dried materials, is resistant to insecticides, and can survive for longer periods without food. Infestations can result in up to 70 percent grain damage, making them unfit for human consumption, according to CBP.
   Agriculture specialists intercepted three to six of the pests per year in 2005 and 2006. The number began to increase in 2007 and averaged 15 per year through 2010.
   The agency said Khapra beetle interceptions increased significantly after additional training was provided to specialists in January 2010. The training guidance includes detection at air, sea and land ports of entry, preclearance, mail and express facilities, and military equipment and facilities.
   No areas of the United States are known to be infested by the Khapra beetle.
   The bug originated in South Asia and is now found throughout much of northern Africa and the Middle East, with a limited presence in Asia, Europe and southern Africa.
   An extensive eradication program 50 years ago helped eliminate the threat from California.