A live scorpion has been destroyed after being found inside the tent of a traveller coming back into Auckland from Mexico.
A Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) inspector at Auckland Airport found the 5cm arachnid 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 was rare for biosecurity staff to find scorpions.