The Khapra beetle is only as big as a nickel is thick, but en masse it could destroy some of Michigan's most important grain crops. It can feed on about any dried plant or animal matter but prefers grains such as wheat, barley, corn and rice.
Two of the beetles were found in a shipment of chickpeas from India this spring at the Fort Street Cargo Facility.
"The Khapra beetle, if not interdicted, could wipe out soybean, wheat and corn crops," said Kenneth Hammond, chief of cargo operations of the Fort Street center.
One invasive insect, the emerald ash borer, proved particularly devastating to American ash trees.
Ash borers have killed or damaged about 35 million ash trees in the Lower Peninsula since their discovery in 2002 in southeast Michigan, according to the state's Department of Agriculture & Rural Development.
Just two weeks ago, two Khapra larvae and a live beetle were found in a suitcase when they were checked at the Blue Water Bridge.
Read more at http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/detroit/michigan-effort-under-way-block-invasive-khapra-beetle-125029260.html
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