An invasive bug species found at a Michigan airport marks just the third time the species has been intercepted in the United States, officials say. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials say the discovery was made last year at the Detroit Metro Airport, but it wasn’t until January when agriculture specialists identified the rare bug.

Agriculture specialists with U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirm that rare invasive seed bugs were intercepted on undeclared cargo late last year at Detroit Metro Airport.

A foreign pest that spreads fungal spores and poses a danger to native trees in Michigan and the U.S. was discovered at Detroit Metro Airport.

These half-inch long, invasive Orsillus maculatus, a spore-spreading seed bug, were found inside undeclared cypress cones at Detroit Metro Airport in late 2024. U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted the cones - and bugs - during a routine check of a passenger. U.S. Customs and Border Protection

US Customs and Border Protection said agents intercepted invasive insects known to damage cypress trees and carry fungus spores a

The half-inch-long insects were discovered among fresh cypress cones, brought for medicinal purposes, during a routine inspection of a passenger in transit to Ohio.