Harmful moths spotted by bureau
The city’s border control authorities have spotted a harmful type of moth species in two batches of leaves imported from Italy for gardening use at Pudong International Airport, officials said.
It was the first time cacoecimorpha pronubana has been spotted in imported goods in China, according to the Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine.
The species is native to Mediterranean countries and regions, and is not found in China.
It feeds on a variety of host plants, including gardening trees, shrubs, fruits, and vegetables, the bureau said. If the species are not seized, it would severely threaten the growth of plants and tangerines in China, the bureau said.
The two batches of leaves include five species, and officials noticed that some leaves were destroyed and green worms were found among the withered leaves.
The worms were then sent for laboratory tests. The goods have been sealed and would be destroyed, the bureau said.