Giant scale insects, never before seen at a U.S. port of entry, were discovered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists during a routine bag inspection at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. The 5‑millimetre bugs belong to the Aspidoproctus genus and are covered with distinctive waxy protrusions. They were found feeding on fresh pine bark that had been transported from Cameroon to Illinois.
The traveler, an unnamed citizen of Cameroon, had brought the bark for medicinal purposes. The insects were released without incident and the passenger was advised on U.S. regulations. CBP officials noted that the discovery was significant because pests such as these can threaten America’s resources and damage key economic sectors.
Port Director Fadia Pastilong said the first in‑nation interception underscores the potential threat. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the insects as Aspidoproctus on August 7, after provisional identification in February. The African genus is among the largest scale bugs, with females capable of laying over 5,000 eggs. Nymphs can be carried by wind, allowing further spread. Many scale bugs feed by sucking sap, damaging trees, vegetation and shrubs.
The CBP also highlighted a separate incident earlier this year when a winged insect, later identified as the straw crest moth, was found in luggage from Ghana. The moth feeds on plants in the rockrose family. CBP officials explained that in their native habitats the insects are kept in check by predators and plant resistance, but new environments lack those controls.
.jpg?trim=1,0,1,0&width=1200&height=800&crop=1200:800)
