Armenia’s Ministry of Agriculture reports that is has confiscated 183,800 carnations shipped into the country by businesswoman Shoghik Hovsepyan after a lab examination revealed that the flowers were infested with western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentali).

This pest is native to the Southwestern United States but has spread to other continents, including Europe, Australia and South America via transport of infested plant material.

The entire shipment will either be destroyed or returned to Turkey.