Passenger 'shocked' after rare scorpion find by biosecurity staff

The "clearly shocked" passenger repeatedly asked the inspector whether there were any more scorpions in the tent. Photo / MPI

A scorpion has been destroyed after being found inside the tent of a traveller coming back into Auckland from Mexico at Auckland Airport.

A Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) inspector found the 5cm insect still "clearly alive and capable of inflicting a sting".

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

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

He said it is rare for biosecurity staff to find scorpions.

But he warned it is very easy for dangerous pests to crawl inside camping equipment and said 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 to New Zealand," 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."

The scorpion has since been destroyed.