A new phytosanitary threat has been detected on the border between Mexico and the United States. It is about the Osbornell salta species of insect that was identified for the first time in the United States during an inspection in the border port of San Luis, Arizona.
The discovery: an unprecedented discovery in the US
The discovery was made when agricultural specialists from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) They were checking a shipment of chicory coming from Mexico. During this routine inspection, They detected an unusual insect that was collected and sent to laboratories of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for analysis.
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Upon review, the USDA National Identification Service confirmed that the specimen belonged to the species Osbornellus salsus, marking the first time this pest is intercepted in the United States.
Following the biosafety protocol, the shipment was confiscated and returned to Mexico to avoid any risk of spread.
What is Osbornellus salsus and why is it so worrying?
This insect is part of the leafhopper family, also known as leafhoppers or leafhoppers. Osbornellus salsus feeds by extracting the sap from various plants, including grasses, shrubs and trees, which can severely weaken the affected plant species.
Beyond direct physical damage to plants, some leafhopper species are associated with transmission of plant pathogens that can put crops of great economic value at risk. For this reason, The presence of Osbornellus salsus has raised alarms in the US agricultural sector.
What is known so far?
Until now, Mexican authorities have not issued an official statement on the case nor has it been reported whether specific measures will be implemented to prevent the spread of this pest in agricultural products.
EE
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