Two pests never before seen in Mississippi were recently discovered in fruit shipments at the Port of Gulfport. The beetles were found in March by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists.

The first discovery was identified as a Cholus sp (Curculionidae), a weevil species that is prohibited in the United States because of the damage it can cause to forests and trees. The pest was discovered March 9 in a shipment of fresh pineapples. Upon inspection, CBP agriculture specialists discovered the pest and submitted it for identification to a U.S. Department of Agriculture entomologist, who confirmed it as Cholus sp (Curculionidae), commonly known as snout weevils.

The second pest was discovered March 30 in a shipment of fresh bananas, and was identified as a Scarabaeidae beetle, or Stenocrates bicarinatus Robinson.

There are more than 30,000 species of scarabs, often found in Costa Rica. They are stout-bodied beetles, many with bright metallic colors, measuring between 1.5 and 160 mm. Their larvae, called grubs, are C-shaped and are pale yellow or white. The grubs mostly live underground or under debris, so are not exposed to sunlight. Many scarabs are scavengers that recycle dung, carrion, or decaying plant material. Others, such as the Japanese beetle, are plant-eaters.

Source: wlox.com