The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is asking Virginians to report to the agency if they received unsolicited packages containing seeds that appear to have originated from China.

The types of seeds in the packages are unknown at this time and may be invasive plant species, said Michael Wallace of VDACS. The packages were sent by mail and may have Chinese writing on them.

The state agency asked residents not to plant these seeds, but instead to report them to the state Office of Plant Industry Services through the ReportAPest@vdacs.virginia.gov email.

According to VDACS, invasive species “wreak havoc on the environment, displace or destroy native plants and insects and severely damage crops. Taking steps to prevent their introduction is the most effective method of reducing both the risk of invasive species infestations and the cost to control and mitigate those infestations.”

People who report receiving the seeds are instructed either to ...