McALLEN (October 1, 2009)--Scorpions suspended in clear plastic will be a little harder to come by at south Texas flea markets after U.S. Customs officers seized large jars filled with thousands of the dead creatures in Brownsville.

Customs officials say a traveler from Mexico declared the shipment of 12 gallons of dead scorpions and two gallons of ants at the border, explaining that they were to be encased in clear plastic and sold at a local "pulga," or flea market.

But because the importer lacked the paperwork to bring wildlife into the country, officials seized the scorpion corpses packed solid into the jars on Sept. 21.