A highly invasive and destructive insect detected last year in downtown Kamloops could be more prolific than was previously thought. Westsyde gardener Laine Martin contacted the Canadian Food Inspection Agency after finding dozens of insects — which appear to be highly invasive Japanese beetles. The federal agency has yet to officially identify these samples. Martin made a Facebook post on Sunday letting other gardeners know about the discovery. Martin told Castanet Kamloops about 70 beetles were collected, and CFIA would be picking them up on Monday for identification. The federal agency has been monitoring and enacting protective measures in Kamloops to try and stop potential spread of the destructive beetle that was detected in the city last year. The City of Kamloops said 11 beetles were detected around Exhibition Park — a discovery which marked the first time the insect was found outside of Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. Exhibition Park is located across the South Thompson River and several kilometres away from Westsyde. The beetles can’t fly long distances, and spread primarily by hitchhiking in soil that is moved from place to place. The Japanese beetle feeds on 300 different species of plants and can cause significant damage to parks, golf courses, gardens and crops if left unmanaged. According to the Invasive Species Council, the beetle poses a severe threat to ecosystems and various industries. The City of Kamloops has been working with federal and provincial agencies, non-profits and industry experts after the beetle was found downtown, with council approving a $200,000 budget for invasive species response. In May, larvicide was applied to sites around Exhibition Park, and CFIA established a boundary around much of downtown Kamloops, enforcing rules for moving sod or plants with soil out of the area. Currently, anyone who needs to move soil material out of the regulated area must apply to the CFIA to get a special certificate. Changes were made to organics pickup in the area, as collected waste material must now go through special disposal processes. Castanet Kamloops has reached out to the CFIA and the City of Kamloops about the potential new discovery. This story will be updated if more information is known.