MIAMI – Officials say a rare insect that is found in South Africa was located in a shipment of cut flowers at Miami International Airport this August.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Chief Jose Castellano says the Uttaris pallidipennis Stal arrived in Miami on Aug. 20 and was later identified at the USDA Miami Plant Inspection Station.
According to the Miami Herald, the insect hasn't been found in the United States before.
Castellano says USDA entomology specialists kept the insect after it was identified. The flowers were allowed to pass through customs.
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