U.S. Customs Finds 37 Tubes of Life Ants Hidden Inside a "Gift"
A shipment labeled as a gift arrived in Miami with something very unusual inside. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists found 37 tubes of live ants hidden beneath a false bottom.
The CBP Office of Field Operations shared the discovery on Aug. 30. The post did not say where the package came from or who was supposed to receive it.
After finding the tubes, CBP sent the ants to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. CBP reportedly destroyed the rest of the shipment.
After the discovery was shared on social media, people didn't quite understand why a box of ants was such a big deal. However, a non-native species arriving in the country can cause serious problems.
The Tubes Were Hidden in the Package
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The "gift" was filled with tubes packed underneath a false bottom inside the shipment. CBP did not explain how agriculture specialists discovered the hidden compartment or why they were even suspicious of it in the first place.
The agency has also not identified the species or specified how many ants were in each tube. However, the photos show multiple ants inside at least some of the tubes.
A Commenter Explained Why It Was a Big Deal
The discovery drew plenty of jokes in the comments, but one person pointed out why the ants should be taken seriously and disposed of.
They wrote, "For everyone mocking, this actually could be an insanely valuable find. I do not know what species the ants are, maybe several different kinds. What you're missing is that non native insects can be very invasive, can completely demolish our ecosystems, destroy our farms, and/or cause new illnesses."
Ant Keepers Need a Permit
The USDA regulates the importation and interstate movement of every ant species. Anyone importing ants or shipping them between states must have a PPQ 526 permit.
Non-native ants can push out native species, damage crops, harm plants and reduce biodiversity. They can also be difficult and expensive to remove once they become established in the area.
The USDA has not identified the type of ants found in Miami or said whether they carried any diseases. CBP also did not announce any arrests or charges connected to the shipment.
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