Since January 2021, Colorado Beetle has been detected in the UK on the following occasions:

15/06/21– Single adult beetle in a domestic garden in Leicestershire, assessed as a transient finding with no evidence of breeding/populations.

19/10/21– Single adult beetle on carrots in a local produce market, assessed as a transient finding with no evidence of breeding/populations.

11/07/23 – Larvae in a potato field in Kent.

14/07/23 - Single adult beetle in a domestic garden in Hampshire, assessed as a transient finding with no evidence of breeding/populations.

11/08/23 - Single adult beetle within 1km of the potato field in Kent, no evidence of breeding/populations, but included as part of the eradication programme for the 11/07/23 finding.

The UK first identified the presence of the Colorado beetle in the UK in 1877.

We have a dedicated programme of risk and horizon scanning, which continuously and proactively assesses new and emerging threats to plant health and their potential impact on the UK.

Bronze birch borer (Agrilus anxius) is a priority, regulated pest with a surveillance programme and contingency plan in place. A pest risk analysis for this pest was carried out in 2011 for the whole of the Europe and Mediterranean Plant Protection region and is attached to this answer, with UK experts in pest risk analysis and forestry being part of the working group. This is available to view on the EPPO website (https://gd.eppo.int/) and provided the basis for the inclusion of the pest on the UK Plant Health Risk Register.

Bronze birch borer is a specialist wood-boring beetle pest of birch trees. It is native to North America and absent from the UK. Specific import measures on birch material from third countries, including North America, are in place to mitigate against its entry into the UK and such materials are subject to pre-landing notification and inspection by the UK plant health authorities. Statutory action would be taken against any findings of this pest in the UK.

We have a dedicated programme of risk and horizon scanning, which continuously and proactively assesses emerging threats to plant health and the potential impact on the UK.

Asian longhorn beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) and citrus longhorn beetle (Anoplophora chinensis) are damaging pests of broadleaved trees including sycamore, maples, willow, birch and elm and are designated as priority, quarantine pests. They are not currently present in the UK. We have contingency plans in place and will take statutory action in the event of a finding.

Risk ratings and current mitigations for both pests are available to view on the UK Plant Health Risk Register. A common pathway for the spread of Asian longhorn beetle is wood packaging material such as pallets, and there are international standards in place for treating such material (International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15) to mitigate this risk. A common international pathway for the spread of citrus longhorn beetle is the movement of young trees for planting, particularly maples. The UK has general prohibitions in place on imports of all high-risk trees from outside of the EU, and further controls on other known hosts from countries where the pest is known to occur. All imports of trees must be pre-notified to government and are subject to an official inspection and surveillance programme.

The management of wireworm outbreaks predominantly relies on non-chemical control such as consolidating seed beds to help restrict its movement and controlling grass weeds to reduce its food source. This non-chemical approach is integral to integrated pest management (IPM) which can help control all pest species. The Government has put IPM at the centre of its draft revised UK National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides. The draft plan sets out how we will support farmers, land managers, amateur users, and amenity users to maximise non-chemical control and increase uptake of IPM approaches. It also sets out how we would do this, by: improving education, knowledge sharing platforms, and advisory mechanisms; considering how to offset financial risks that could be associated with uptake of an IPM approach; and investing in research and development on alternative crop protection options. The consultation on the draft plan closed on 26 February and the final plan will be published later in the year.

Natural England is working with a range of external partners on the Back from the Brink programme. Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and other external funders, this is an inspiring partnership for threatened species and their habitats. The programme is safeguarding the future of 12 specific species, including the shrill carder bee, and benefiting over 200 others, including the violet click beetle and royal splinter crane fly.

The Back from the Brink programme is supporting the conservation of the shrill carder bee in its two strongholds in England, in Somerset and the Thames Gateway. By working with specialists and volunteers, the programme is improving our understanding of the needs of this rare bee, encouraging improved management of existing flower rich grassland and creating further habitat to support its populations.

The programme’s partners are also improving the management and understanding of ancient woodlands which provide habitat for the violet click beetle and royal splinter crane fly, including Windsor and Savernake Forests. The project is providing habitat for these species by installing beetle boxes and managing ageing trees, and is providing opportunities for the public to encounter and learn about these vital species.

While we are concerned by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s recent publication of the European Red List of Saproxylic Beetles showing that 18 percent of these beetle species are at risk of extinction due to ongoing decline in large veteran trees across Europe, as neither of the two species of beetle in the question is native to the UK so we will not be taking species-specific action for them.

A Contingency Plan for England and Wales and a Pest Risk Assessment (PRA) have been published for the small hive beetle. Elements of the Contingency Plan were tested during 2016 with the completion of two field exercises in England. Such exercises have been carried out annually since 2005 on a four year rolling regional cycle ensuring that all National Bee Unit field inspectors and support staff are trained in Contingency Planning and Operational Preparedness.

Since the first detection in Italy in September 2014 UK bee inspectors have enhanced our inspection services and surveillance by:

• tracing and checking past imports of bees from Italy;
• increasing inspections of high-risk apiaries near ports and airports;
• doubling the number of targeted exotic pest inspections carried out per year;
• providing training and guidance materials on pest recognition to inspectors responsible for checking UK imports of plants and plant products (e.g. Plant Health and Seeds Inspectors and Horticulture Marketing Inspectors – as these products could provide a route by which the beetle is introduced); and
• working with beekeeper associations, government agencies and importer trade associations (e.g. Fresh Produce Consortium) to raise awareness amongst beekeepers, plant produce importers and growers who use managed bees for pollination services.

The outbreak of the small hive beetle has been discussed in European Union meetings by Member State officials including those representing the UK and Irish Governments.

Defra’s Pest Risk Analysis for the small hive beetle, including an assessment of its potential impact, has been published and can be found at www.nationalbeeunit.com/downloadDocument.cfm?id=945.

Exports of bees are banned from an area of 100 km around the outbreak and the Italian authorities are taking steps to eradicate the beetle.

As a precaution, in addition to inspecting recent exports of bees to England and Wales, Defra has alerted and provided advisory leaflets on the small hive beetle to the Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate, the Horticulture Marketing Inspectorate, and trade associations representing importers of plant produce. We have asked them to remain vigilant and report any suspected findings to the National Bee Unit.

Defra’s Pest Risk Analysis for the small hive beetle, including an assessment of its potential impact, has been published and can be found at www.nationalbeeunit.com/downloadDocument.cfm?id=945.

Exports of bees are banned from an area of 100 km around the outbreak and the Italian authorities are taking steps to eradicate the beetle.

As a precaution, in addition to inspecting recent exports of bees to England and Wales, Defra has alerted and provided advisory leaflets on the small hive beetle to the Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate, the Horticulture Marketing Inspectorate, and trade associations representing importers of plant produce. We have asked them to remain vigilant and report any suspected findings to the National Bee Unit.