Insect pest intercepted at LA port

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LOS ANGELES, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- An insect pest that can wreak havoc on vineyards and fruit orchards was intercepted in California in a container of oranges from Australia, officials said.

An elephant weevil, which attacks cultivated vines and feeds on citrus, berry bushes and fruit trees, was discovered at the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach last month, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.

The live insect, less than an inch long, was discovered Aug. 30.

"Had this pest gone undetected, it could have had a serious impact on the California wine industry," Todd C. Owen, Customs and Border Protection director of Los Angeles field operations, said in a statement.

The oranges were fumigated and released for shipment to their destination in Florida, officials said.