May 15, 2008 12:13 pm US/Eastern
Giant Beetles Found In Berks Co. Package
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Philadelphia has taken care of some creepy crawly pests.
Hercules, Rhinoceros and Goliath beetles arrived in packages at a postal facility in Mohton, Pa. on Wednesday morning, about 65 miles from Philadelphia. The packages were labeled as toys, gifts and jellies; however they contained several 26-legged flying insects.
The postmaster at the post office heard scratching coming from inside the box and alerted authorities.
The beetles were five to six inches in diameters and posed a huge threat to the U.S. agriculture industry.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) called in their Philadelphia based agriculture specialist to take care of the potentially devastating problem.
"The specimens were some of the largest of their kind, and some of the largest I've ever seen, averaging five to six inches in diameter," said John Plummer, CBP Agriculture Specialist in Philadelphia. "They are highly destructive insect pests that can cause extensive damage to fruit and vegetable crops, trees, shrubs and turf grasses."
The CBP froze the beetles, ending any threat the beetles may have posed.
Agriculture Specialists in the Port of Philadelphia eradicate hundreds of harmful, non-indigenous beetles every year that arrive via air or sea shipments.
It is illegal to ship live beetles into the country without a permit from the USDA and because no permit was found associated with this shipment, an investigation is now underway.
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