PHILADELPHIA - May 14, 2008 (WPVI) -- Large insects, some measuring a half-foot in diameter and all considered harmful to agriculture in the U.S., were found in a package after postal workers thought they heard the parcel making noises.

In all, 26 beetles were in the package that was originally sent to Mohnton, Pa., which is located near Reading.
The package was labeled as containing "toys, gifts and jellies," according to the U.S. Customs Service, but postal officials in Mohnton thought they heard something alive inside.
When the package was sent to Philadelphia, it was frozen by agriculture specialists. They X-rayed the package and found smaller containers holding the bugs inside.
Some of the 26 insects, Hercules, Rhinoceros and Goliath beetles of the family Scarabaeidae, measured 5- to 6-inches in diameter.
"The specimens were some of he largest of their kind, and some of the largest I've ever seen, averaging five to six inches in diameter," said John Plummer, CBP Agriculture Specialist in a press release. "They are highly destructive insect pests that can cause extensive damage to fruit and vegetable crops, trees, shrubs and turf grasses."
Inside each of the little containers was "beetle jelly" that officials say would have kept the bugs alive during shipment.

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That's one package I wouldn't want to open! UGH!

I smell a conspiracy brewing...

By someone who doesn't like fruit.......

this is totally awful. Just when i'm having dinner

Well, don't eat and look at UM at the same time..........

I wish they would have stated the combined monetary value of the 26 beetles.

Jeez, I hate those things..I just received a package from Atlanta, and now I'm afraid to open it...

i live in atlanta & we don't have anything like that here so don't worry

LOL. You haven't heard any noises coming from the package have you?

Naww...but I can't understand where that damn ticking is coming from

I think I'd be more afraid of opening any package from Jersey if I lived in Atlanta... LOL... (just kiddin')

Customs fraud is nothing to sneeze at. Somebody's gonna get in deep doo-doo!

Well, when you care enough to send the very best...



What? No dung beetles? Cheapskates!!

I'd be disssssssssapointed if I didn't get one of these

Do like they did in Philly: Freeze the package! (You can send the $10 to me later.)

You'd open it if it was ticking, but was marked TATER TOTS......Answer your doorbell Biff, there's a crate being delivered with one of our Jersey cows....

Got em'

Smarty Pants! LOL

Personally I'm dissapointed by the packages lack of venomous critters. where are those scorpions I ordered!?

My sister would have died of fright if she got a package filled with bugs. She's deathly afraid of insects.

*twitches*