CBP Agriculture Specialists Detect Asian Gypsy Moth in Ports of Seattle, Tacoma
September 16, 2009U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists stationed at the Seattle and Tacoma seaports intercepted Asian gypsy moth eggs masses twice in one week. Asian gypsy moth (AGM), a voracious pest, is known to eat the foliage of more than 500 different species of forest trees and other plants. If it becomes established in the U.S., the insect has the potential to spread quickly because the female moth can fly up to 25 miles.
On August 25, CBP agriculture specialists in Tacoma discovered three AGM egg masses on the lower sides of two ocean containers. AGM egg masses were scraped off of the containers and submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture identifier.
On August 29, CBP agriculture specialists in Seattle conducted an inspection of a merchant vessel arriving from Japan for any presence of Asian gypsy moth. CBP targeted the vessel for inspection because it had recently visited a port known to have a high population of the pest. A total of five AGM egg masses were found around the holds and near the bridge of the vessel. Also, the abdomen of a dead moth was discovered on the vessel superstructure filled with eggs. A USDA laboratory confirmed that the egg mass contained live AGM eggs.
All egg masses were removed, and each affected area was treated to kill any remaining eggs.
