The Customs and Border Protection agency says inspectors found Asian gypsy moth egg clusters Jan. 23 on a cargo ship at the Port of Tacoma.

The vessel was ordered into international waters for cleaning. A commercial cleaning company removed 275 egg masses from the surface of the ship. It was re-inspected and allowed to dock in Tacoma to unload cargo.

The eggs were laid by moths apparently attracted to lights on the ship when it was in port in East Asia. If allowed to hatch, the caterpillars would threaten Northwest forests and urban trees and other plants.