Skip to main content

Destructive insect found in rice shipment at port

BALTIMORE (AP) — Federal agriculture specialists say they found larvae of a destructive insect infesting a rice shipment at the Port of Baltimore.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Wednesday that the 43,000 pound shipment of rice from Pakistan was infested with Khapra beetle larvae. Authorities say only dead larvae were found.

Customs and Border Protection issued an emergency action notice to the importer ordering that the shipment be destroyed or re-exported.

Officials say the importer chose to re-export the 1,066-carton shipment.

Customs and Border Protection officials say the Khapra beetle is one of the world’s most destructive insect pests of grains, cereals and stored foods.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Emergency guide: What you should do to prepare for emergencies

WASHINGTON — Do you know what you'd do if an emergency hits? What if you're at work, your spouse is stuck in traffic and your children are in school? There's no way to plan for every emergency, but you can make sure you're prepared for different scenarios, including making a plan for your family and building a kit of emergency supplies.
Read Next Story