About Quarantine Pests

 

 

 

 

I. About Quarantine Pests

On November 28, 2024, an important announcement-Announcement No. 845 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China-officially came into effect. This announcement added 47 pests to the List of Quarantine Pests for Imported Plants of the People's Republic of China, increasing the total number of pests on the list to 493. This move undoubtedly serves as a wake-up call: there must be no slack in the prevention and control of quarantine pests. So, what exactly are quarantine pests? What kind of harm do they cause? Next, let's explore further!

II. Quarantine Pests "On the List"

Chinese Name: 地中海实蝇

Scientific Name: Ceratitis capitata

Size: about 3.5–5 mm

Biological Classification: Diptera, Tephritidae

Physical Characteristics: The body is primarily divided into three colors—yellow, white, and black. The body and wings feature distinctive markings, with a yellow forehead and a slightly glossy yellow crown.

Origin: Tropical Africa

Ceratitis capitata primarily infests stone fruits, pome fruits, and citrus fruits in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions, as well as solanaceous vegetables like peppers and tomatoes. Over 400 types of fruits and vegetables have been documented as host plants for Ceratitis capitata. In addition to directly damaging the fruit pulp, it can also induce bacterial and fungal diseases in plants, leading to fruit drop, rot, and extensive damage.

Chinese name: 非洲大蜗牛

Scientific Name: Achatina fulica

Size: Shell height typically ranges from 7 to 8 cm, with a maximum exceeding 20 cm.

Biological Classification: Family Achatinidae, Order Stylommatophora

Physical Characteristics: The shell is narrow and conical, moderately thick and glossy, elongated-ovoid in shape with a conical spire; the shell surface is yellow or dark yellow with brown, fog-like patterns.

Origin: Eastern Africa

The Achatina fulica reproduce rapidly in favorable conditions, consuming large quantities of crop leaves and stems, leading to reduced yields or total crop loss. Furthermore, it serves as an intermediate host for numerous parasites and pathogens, potentially spreading diseases and posing a threat to human health.

Chinese name: 松材线虫

Scientific Name: Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

Size: slender body, about 1 mm long.

Biological Classification: phylum Nemathelminthes, Aphelia, Aphelioidea, Aphelionidae, Aphelion.

Physical Characteristics: Both male and female nematodes are worm-shaped, with slender bodies. The female is about 0.81 mm long, with a nearly round (cylindrical) tail and a broadly rounded end. The male is approximately 0.73 mm long, with a claw-like tail that curves ventrally. The anterior part of the larvae in infected specimen resembles that of adults, but the posterior part is darkened due to the accumulation of numerous granular inclusions in the intestine, with indistinct internal structures and a sub-cylindrical tail.

Origin: North America

Bursaphelenchus xylophilus is one of the most serious invasive alien species in China, and it is a very dangerous forest disease. Under natural conditions, it is transmitted to pine trees through vector insects such as Monochamus alternatus, causing rapid chlorosis, wilting, and yellowing of pine needles, followed by the withering and death of the entire pine tree. The pine tree succumbs to the disease within just two to three months.

Chinese Name: 红火蚁

Scientific Name: Solenopsis invicta

Size: Male ants are 7–8 mm long, dark in color, while winged females measure 8–10 mm long.

Biological Classification: Order Hymenoptera, Family Formicidae, Genus Solenopsis (Fire Ants)

Physical Characteristics: The body ranges from reddish-brown to dark brown, the head is somewhat square-shaped, the compound eyes are small, and the thorax is well-developed. Antennae are geniculate with a total of 10 segments, and the final two segments are club-shaped. The abdomen is oval and ends with a stinger.

Origin: South America

Solenopsis invicta exhibit strong aggression. They sting both humans and animals, injecting venom that results in pain, itching, redness, swelling, and potentially anaphylactic shock, posing a threat to human and animal health. They disrupt ecological balance by preying on various insects, birds, and small mammals, thus affecting biodiversity. Additionally, they harm agricultural crops, electrical infrastructure, and communication devices, impacting agricultural production and the functioning of public facilities.

Chinese Name: 谷斑皮蠹

Scientific Name: Trogoderma granarium

Size: Adults are 1.8–3.0 mm in length and 0.9–1.7 mm in width, with females generally larger than males.

Biological Classification: Order Coleoptera, Family Dermestidae, Genus Trogoderma

Physical Characteristics: The heads and pronotum of the adults are dark brown to black, and their elytra are reddish-brown with faint lighter speckles. The antennae have 11 segments; for males, the club consists of 3 to 5 segments, with the last segment nearly equaling the combined length of segments 9 and 10; for females, the club consists of 3 to 4 segments. The antennal fossa is notably wide and deep, with the rear ridge of the antennal fossa being particularly underdeveloped. The anterior edge of the chin features a deep concavity at the center with both sides being bluntly rounded. The depth at the concave edge is less than half of the chin's maximum height. The copulatory pouch sclerite in females is extremely small, approximately 0.2mm in length and 0.01mm in width, with sparse dentition present.

Origin: India

The Trogoderma granarium causes damage by feeding in the larval stage; they are highly voracious and not only consume directly but also have the tendency to pulverize food. The damage induced by them to legumes, grains, oilseeds, and other plant-derived stored goods and their processed products can amount to 20% of the total storage volume, sometimes reaching as high as 75%.

III. Countermeasures by the Customs

1. Enhancing port inspections

Assign professional inspection personnel and utilize advanced inspection equipment to conduct thorough checks on all types of entry-exit goods, passenger luggage, and transportation vehicles. Leave no potential hiding place for any harmful pest unexamined; rigorously apply quarantine standards and focus specifically on inspecting high-risk items to ensure pests are stopped at the border and do not enter the country.

2. Conducting risk monitoring

Establish multiple monitoring sites in key locations such as around airports and cargo storage areas to conduct regular monitoring of pests. Utilize traps, monitoring plots, and other means to promptly identify the species, distribution, and occurrence patterns of pests. If any anomalies are detected, a swift response is enabled with appropriate preventive and control measures to curb the risk of pest invasion at its onset.

3. Enhancing public awareness and education

Promote awareness of the dangers posed by quarantine pests and related laws and regulations to travelers and the general public through various channels. In the airport terminal waiting area, electronic display screens are employed to showcase promotional videos, and distribute brochures, informing passengers about items prohibited from being brought into the country. Carry out "Biosecurity on Campus" campaign, enhance public awareness and preventative knowledge about quarantine pests through social media, official websites, and other platforms, encouraging everyone to adhere to laws and regulations consciously and collaboratively engage in prevention and control efforts.

IV. Customs Reminder

The cause of preventing and controlling quarantine pests is ongoing and challenging, requiring the combined efforts of each and every one of us. When returning from your next international trip, while relishing the pleasant journey, please remember to comply with the relevant regulations. Avoid bringing prohibited items into the country as we collectively work to protect our ecological homeland.

 

 

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Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of Fuzhou Customs 12360. The Fuzhou Customs 12360 version shall prevail.