Newly Discovered and Intercepted Beetles Raise Biosecurity Concerns

U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently intercepted a potentially destructive bark beetle, Ctonoxylon spinifer Eggers, at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. This beetle, approximately three millimeters in size, was found in partially dry bark brought from the Ivory Coast by a passenger en route to Texas for medicinal purposes.

According to UPI, this interception marks the first time this species has been identified at a U.S. port of entry, raising biosecurity concerns due to its potential to damage significant crops, such as fig and olive trees.

Port Director Fadia Pastilong emphasized the significance of the find, noting that many bark beetle species can be tree-destroying pests. The beetle tunnels and breeds within layers of bark, a behavior that differentiates it from many other bark beetles that create galleries underneath.

The passenger was released without incident, and the beetle and the bark have been seized for further study, highlighting the ongoing efforts to monitor and control invasive species in the U.S.