Last stop for stowaway with a sting

The 5cm scorpion was in a tent.

A live scorpion has been destroyed after being found in the tent of a traveller returning to Auckland from Mexico.

A Ministry for Primary Industries inspector at Auckland Airport found the 5cm arachnid still "clearly alive and capable of inflicting a sting".

The shocked passenger repeatedly asked the inspector whether there were any more scorpions in the tent.

"After further inspection, we were able to confirm there weren't," said MPI's northern border clearance manager for passengers and mail, Craig Hughes.

He said it was easy for dangerous pests to crawl inside camping equipment, and the incident should serve as a reminder for arriving international passengers to thoroughly clean camping gear.

"We keep an eye out for used camping items, but passengers can do their bit for New Zealand's biosecurity by cleaning their gear before they jump on a plane to visit or return home," Mr Hughes said.

"An established scorpion population in New Zealand is the last thing the tourism industry and the public in general want to see here."