ATLANTA — Customs and Border Protection specialists at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport intercepted a small beetle labeled one of the world's most destructive pests, officials said.
SLIDESHOW: Destructive Beetle Intercepted At Atlanta Airport
The discovery was made while officers inspected a small bag of dried beans in the luggage of two international passengers arriving from India, officials said.
The small beetle larva was slightly larger than a pinhead, officials said.
Entomologists for the Department of Agriculture identified the insect as a khapra beetle, formally known as Trogoderma granarium.
"Discovering this significant pest and stopping it from entering the country further emphasizes the importance of our mission" said Parris Hawkins, CBP chief of agriculture.
Officials said an outbreak of khapra beetle in the U.S. could cost taxpayers millions and lead to tremendous economic losses for seed and grain producers.
WSBTV
