Asian beetle poses the biggest threat to woodlands since Dutch Elm Disease in the 1970s

Asian long-horn beetles pose a mortal danger to English

woodland. Government scientists have discovered the beetle breeding in Britain for the first time

A Chinese beetle is threatening to wreak havoc on Britain’s trees on a scale not seen since the devastation of Dutch Elm Disease 40 years ago.

If unchecked, the Asian long-horn beetle threatens to lay waste to millions of poplar and willow trees as well as maple, sycamore, elm, horse chestnut, apple, pear and cherry species.

Government scientists have discovered the beetle breeding in Britain for the first time. They now fear young beetles will soon mature into adults and spread around the country.

Experts say a nightmare scenario could happen from May – and they are now in a race against time to prevent the spread of the beetle before then.

They are inspecting every tree within a mile radius of the outbreak, in Paddock Wood, Kent, using binoculars to scan the bark for tell-tale holes less than an inch in diameter in which beetles lay eggs. Read More