War Declared on Illegals Crossing Border

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declared war on illegal tomatoes and peppers crossing the border from Canada.  During June 2010, the USDA placed a ban on the transportation of whole tomatoes and peppers crossing the border. Tomatoes and peppers may enter the U.S. from Canada following an agriculture inspection to determine proof of the country of origin.
The USDA is attempting to prevent the introduction of two invasive species of agriculture pests that could cause severe economic damage to the produce and cotton industry in the U.S.  The problem is that Canada imports tomatoes and peppers from countries known to have problems with both of these pests.
The Tomato Leaf Miner (Liriomyza sp.) is a small, black and yellow fly that has rapidly moved eastward from tropical and sub-tropical African through areas of Asia, Central American and South America.  Adult females insert their eggs inside the leaves of tomato plants.  As eggs hatch, larvae begin to feed inside the leaves creating a meandering track of “mines”.  In severe infestations entire leaves may be covered with these mines.
After feeding for several days, mature larvae drop to the ground to pupate.  A complete life cycle only takes two weeks in tropical and subtropical climates, allowing up to ten generations.
The USDA efforts on the Canadian border may be a case of “too little, too late.” Tomato Lead Miners have already been introduced to California and are known to be resistant to a wide variety of pesticides.   The pest may be spreading outside the state and can now be found in portions of South Texas. Control methods are aimed at the use of pesticides that will not kill parasitic wasps (Chrysocharis parksi and Diglyphus begini) that are known to attack Leak Miner larvae.
The False Codling Moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta) native to Ethiopia and sub-Saharan Africa has not been established in North America so far. In addition to peppers, other potential U.S. hosts include okra, pineapple, pecan, a variety of citrus and cotton. In cotton, larvae first enter the boll wall, then later enter the seeds. There are few visual indications of damage being done inside seeds. Economic losses can be very high.
The USDA ban was put into effect after peppers were allowed to be shipped into Canada, known to be infested with the False Coddling Moth.  Canada has also allowed tomatoes to be imported from countries known to have problems with the Leaf Miner. For now, persons traveling from Canada to the U.S. may only transport tomatoes and peppers if they have “papers” stating their country of origin.