The packages of potato chips, chocolate and various Japanese snacks that arrived at Los Angeles International Airport last month included more than delicious snacks.
What was hidden in the bundle was not an unconvenient insect for consumption, but perfect for exotic beetle enthusiasts.
US Customs and Border Security Agriculture experts have discovered 37 giant live beetles worth $1,480 – hidden in air freight transports arriving in California from Japan, authorities said .
Exotic insects are popular among collectors and invertebrate enthusiasts around the world. Insects are frequently sold online and through underground sources, making them a favourable part of the illegal wildlife trade.
The beetles were hidden in packaging of chips, chocolate and other Japanese snack foods, officials said.
(US customs and border security bureaus)
However, according to US customs and border security, they can wreak havoc in forests and agriculture.
“They may seem harmless, but in reality, smuggled beetles pose a major threat to our important agricultural resources,” said Los Angeles Field Operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Director Cheryl M. Davis said in a news release. “Right beetles can become serious pests by eating plants, leaves and roots and laying eggs in the forest.
The USDA is asking those who want to import live insects into the United States to get permission. But some people are trying to downplay those rules, officials said.
Officials say beetles can wreaking havoc in U.S. forests and agricultural resources.
(US customs and border security bureaus)
The USDA seizes the beetles and decides where the insects will go next. Officials say such insects are likely to have permission or donate to local zoos that are preserved for local collections.
The person who shipped the beetles, or their intended final destination, was not immediately clear.
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