Posted on 09/01/2014 11:43:42 AM PDT by nickcarraway
Customs agents are used to confiscating fake Viagra pills, counterfeit sports jerseys and illegal DVDS. They're not accustomed to snagging giant myriapodous arthropods, however, that wriggle in the dirt and eat decaying plants.
But the U.S. Customs and Border agriculture specialists found and intercepted 20 foot-long millipedes at the San Francisco International Airport mail facility, the agency announced on Friday, and in doing so, stopped the slimy creatures from any further travel.
The intended recipient in Vista, California, was sent a letter that his or her package of exotic wormlike insects would not be arriving from Berlin, Customs Chief J. Frederick Ho told NBC Bay Area. Ho didn't know why the box would be sent to San Francisco and not LAX.
“I'll be honest, we do get certain strange things here," Ho said. "But I can't recall ever getting something like this here. It is out of the ordinary.”
Shipping millipedes – which some like to keep as exotic pets – isn't illegal, Ho said, but they do need a special permit to be sent through the mail – and this package didn't have that. In fact, the package was mislabled "toy car model."
An agent discovered the millipedes while inspecting the facility's X-ray machine and noted the discrepency. Inside the X-rayed package was a large Styrofoam box, containing a mesh bag that held the millipedes, along with chunks of soil and paper.
Ho said, since the shipper lives in Germany, it is unlikely that person will face a fine or a penalty.
The millipedes were whisked off to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and were euthanized.
That ain’t no millipede — that’s a centipede.
“Uuuuunnnnngh!”
I have been watching the FX show “The Strain”. An old wooden box arrives in an airplane and all of the passengers are dead upon landing. The box contains worms that end up infecting New Yorkers, turning them into blood thirsty vampire/zombie/things.
Who in the world is ordering twenty foot long mell.....meill.....bugs?
“The Stevensons have invited us over for dinner on Saturday night. What should we bring along for a gift for them?”
“How about a 20 foot long maela....meela......bug?”
“Oh, I was saving him to give to Mother for her birthday.”
Coming soon to the SyFy Channel — Millipodnado
Must take forever to get through TSA screening, especially if they are wearing shoes:)
frisking might be difficult. :)
/johnny
Twenty-foot long millipedes or twenty foot-long millipedes?
I was going to add that they blend in well near Wall Street, but figured someone would pick up on it! (Disclaimer, some of the friendliest strangers I’ve met were in New York. And no - I don’t mean the hookers.)
/johnny
/johnny
“That ain’t no millipede-that’s a centipede.”
If I found one in my closet you could definitely say
“Sivadpede”.
So cute! I want it!
Well, then I’m taking Gary back to the pet store.
LOL...that’s the first thing I thought.....damn those are big suckers!
Makes you wonder why they even pay editors anymore...
Whew. . .that’s a relief. . .
;-)
So there ARE 20 foot long bugs like that?
Who knew. . .
“Arthropods aren’t slimy and make great pets”
Nothing beats curling up with one while you sit by the fire and read a good book. They snuggle very nicely and are a dream to potty-train.
When you edit what was written to change the meaning without copying the original ....
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