Written question asked by Alan Simpson (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 May 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 24 May 2007. It was answered by Barry Gardiner (Labour) on Wednesday, 6 June 2007 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Pest Control

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether his Department has carried out an investigation into the origins of the two wild populations of diabrotica virgifera found in the wild in south east England;

Answer: Investigations into the origins of the populations of ““diabrotica virgifera”” found in the south-east of England are very difficult because the means by which ““D. virgifera”” was introduced are unclear. There is circumstantial evidence to suggest that ““D. virgifera”” is spread by aircraft. However, to date no studies have been carried out on the presence of potentially invasive insects on aircraft.A study is currently being conducted to investigate whether the populations of ““D. virgifera”” found in south east England are related to populations of ““D. virgifera”” in eastern Europe and the USA. The results are due to be published later this year. However, these types of studies cannot specifically pinpoint the origin of an introduced species, and at best the results will demonstrate whether the populations of ““D. virgifera”” in south east England are more likely to be related to those from eastern Europe, the USA or both.

Secondary information