A rare pest that has never been seen before in the United States has been intercepted by US Customs and Border Control (CBP) specialists at the port of entry to Hidalgo / Farr / Anzalduas.

CBP Agriculture Specialists inspected a commercial consignment of prickly pear cactus coming from Mexico and found an insect that was not immediately identified.

The insect was transferred for identification to the entomological laboratory of the US Department of Agriculture, and the initial identification was later confirmed by a national specialist as Dysschema mariamne.

Insect Dysschema mariamne

“Our CBP agriculture specialists deserve praise for their persistence and attention to detail, which led to the discovery of the country's first pest,” said port director Carlos Rodriguez, port of entry of Hidalgo / Farr / Anzalduas.

“By intercepting these exotic pests, our agricultural experts help protect American agriculture and contribute to the country's economic security by denying access to invasive species that are not known to exist in the United States.”

According to US Department of Agriculture entomologists, this pest has never been found in any of the national ports of entry. CBP refused to import cargo and returned it back to Mexico.