Pest tiger moth found at Port of Philadelphia

Federal authorities Thursday announced the discovery in Philadelphia this month - the first such find in the nation - of a tiger moth, a pest that could be harmful to agricultural crops.

The moth was found Aug. 8 during a routine produce-container inspection of a shipment of Colombian apple bananas at the Port of Philadelphia, said officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The specimen was given to a local U.S. Department of Agriculture entomologist, who identified the moth as Cosmosoma ruatana (Erebidae), officials said. Tiger moths are considered polyphagous, able to feed on various types of produce, making them potentially harmful to many crops.

"Intercepting destructive insect invaders at our nation's borders, before they can threaten our agriculture industries, is of great importance to Customs and Border Protection," said Margaret Braunstein, Customs and Border Protection acting area port director for the Port of Philadelphia.

"CBP agriculture specialists take their job very seriously, and this first-in-the-nation insect interception is a significant discovery."

bmoran@phillynews.com 215-854-5983 @RobertMoran215