Chestnuts containing insect larvae seized in Shandong

South Korean chestnuts were seized from a passenger aboard a cruise ship in Yantai, Shandong province after they were found to contain insect larvae. 

According to Dazhong News, quarantine officials discovered live larvae of the Chestnut Weevil and Oriental Fruit Moth in a batch of chestnuts brought by a South Korean tourist on a visit to China. If the insects were to escape and breed the result would be devastating to local crops, especially chestnuts and hazelnuts:

Yantai customs authorities report that dozens of illegal animal and plant products have been seized at local airports and seaports since the start of this year. According to the Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, these products could have caused several million yuan in economic losses had they gotten into China.

Experts warn that, since the 1980s, the number of invasive species disrupting local ecosystems has increased, with 50 new species entering the country in just the last decade. They added that 20 of these alien species have caused ecological disasters spanning large areas in China.