ROMULUS, Mich. (News 10) – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials say they seized a “potentially destructive” moth at Detroit Metro Airport earlier this year.
CBP agriculture specialists made what they call a “first-in-the-nation” interception back in January, the agency said in a press release Tuesday.
An agriculture detector canine alerted CBP staff to luggage belonging to a passenger from Ghana during a routine inspection. A closer inspection of corn and seeds in the luggage revealed a small, winged insect — later identified as a non-native straw crest moth (Mesophleps silacella).
Local CBP officials confirmed identification with USDA on Aug. 12, and records indicate this was the first encounter with the species at a U.S. port of entry…