During the months of November and December, US Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists discovered multiple pests and invasive seeds during inspections of rail containers at the Portal, North Dakota Port of Entry rail facility.

The rail line crosses the Saskatchewan border, southeast of Estevan.

“Our CBP agriculture specialists continue to be our first line of defense in protecting our borders from unwanted pests and diseases that could adversely affect our nation’s food production,” said Acting Pembina Area Port Director Jason Schmelz.

In a container of screws from Taiwan, agriculture specialists discovered brown plant hoppers (Nilaparvata lugens), which are a major pest of rice and causes damage by feeding, but also by spreading viruses.

A seed was also discovered and identified as Cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica), which is highly invasive and can be flammable.

Also in a shipment of casters from China it was revealed that bark beetles (Scolytinae sp.) were present on the pallets.

These pests are highly mobile and very destructive.

Both shipments were re-exported back to Canada.

brown plant hopper submitted UScustoms
Brown Plant Hopper