U.S. Customs officers at Detroit Wayne County International Airport discovered wood-boring insects and evidence of their tunnels on 13 occasions in January while inspecting wood pallets and other packing material, the agency said.
Six inspections in late January resulted in the interception of eight live wood-boring insects. Customs said it refused to allow the wood packing material to enter the commercial stream.
Under international standards, wood packaging material must be marked as fumigated or heat treated.
Michigan has already suffered extensive damage to forests from the introduction of non-native insects, such as the emerald ash borer and Asian long-horned beetle.
Wood borers found at Detroit airport
