U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists working report that they have intercepted a first of its kind insect, at an inspection at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Officials say that the potentially destructive giant scale insects were intercepted earlier this year and could have had a huge effect on trees in Michigan and beyond.
Scale insects are herbivores and pierce the plant or tree they are feeding on, consuming the sap. Females have soft bodies and no limbs, while males can resemble small flies. The females can also exude a type of wax as a protective measure. The CBP found 5-mm long female insects feeding on some fresh pine bark that was being brought in by a traveler from Cameroon for medicinal reasons; the traveler was passing through DTW on the way to Illinois.
CBP said that, along with U.S. Department of Agriculture officials, they tentatively identified the pests as a type of giant scale in February. Then the USDA confirmed on August 7 that the insects belonged to the Aspidoproctus species, and this was the first time the species had been encountered at a U.S. port of entry.
“This encounter provided us with an opportunity to educate the traveling public of the dangers exotic plant matter poses to U.S. agriculture interests and showcases the diligence of our agriculture specialists in protecting the homeland,” said Director of Field Operations Marty C. Raybon. “There is no such thing as a small threat.”
CBP’s website also notes that this species can grow as large as 1.5 inches long, and female scales can lay as many as 5,000 eggs; the young can easily be spread by wind.
This news comes on the heels of the USDA announcing a new initiative to curb the spread of another invasive and dangerous insect, the New World Screwworm, in August.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
