Khapra beetle caught in Toronto before getting on plane to U.S.

A large quantity of live larvae, adult insects and shed casings of Khapra beetles got as far as Pearson Airport but were not permitted to board a plane.

Khapra beetles, an insect that destroys grains, cereals and a variety of stored foods, is considered one of the worst invasive species in the world, according to the University of Florida Food & Agricultural Services.

The insects were found in a plastic bag of dried beans at Pearson's pre-clearance facility by officers of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The 4.4-pound bag of dried beans were found in a traveller's checked luggage. The bag was travelling from Somalia with a final destination of Atlanta.

The insects were sent to an inspection station in Boston to positively identify the specimens as Trogoderma granarium, commonly known as Khapra or cabinet beetle.

This is the first time that Khapra beetles have been found at Pearson.

The bag of beans and all Khapra beetle elements were turned over to the Canada Border Services Agency for destruction by incineration. 

Ruinous for stored food

The Khapra beetle is the only insect that U.S. customs takes regulatory action against — even if the beetles are dead.

"The Khapra beetle is one of the most destructive pests, and thanks to the vigilance of our Customs and Border Patrol agriculture specialists, it did not make it to the U.S.," said assistant port director Robert Maimbourg.

The Khapra beetles apparently originate in India but have spread across Southeast Asia.

The Khapra beetle can be economically ruinous if it were to get into a food storage facility. It is also very difficult to eradicate. The beetle was discovered in California in 1953, where it took $11-million USD to get rid of the insect — close to $90-million USD in today's dollars.

The beetles can make humans ill. If ingested, the beetles can cause gastrointestinal irritation and worse in children.