MAFF warns Greeks over Colorado beetles

05 August 1997

MAFF warns Greeks over Colorado beetles

THE government has warned the Greek authorites ot make sure future produce deliveries to the UK are pest-free, following this weeks Colorado-beetle alert.

The beetles were found in a truck at Harwich, Essex, in a consignment of fresh produce from Greece. The European Commission has been notified.

The 10mm, striped beetles can devastate potato crops by
stripping the plants of their leaves.

Don Savage, the ministry of agricultures chief plant health and seeds inspector, doubted any of the insects would have escaped from the truck, but he was worried that beetles in future deliveries might not be spotted in time.