Alan Titchmarsh issues warning over brutal pest that can 'wipe out crops'
Alan Titchmarsh has raised the alarm over the return of a brutal pest, which is said to pose a serious risk to the food industry, after a sighting in Kent in 2023
Gardening pro and national treasure Alan Titchmarsh has warned fellow green-fingered enthusiasts to be on the lookout for one nasty pest.
He has warned that this destructive menace, namely the Colorado beetle, can completely 'wipe out crops', with people already wary of other creatures such as slugs, mealybugs, ants and aphids, known for destroying plants.
At the 2025 Chelsea Flower Show, Alan warned that the tiny black and yellow-striped pest is one of the biggest threats to the UK's food security, as reported by the Daily Mail. And it could pose a risk to the British potato industry.
Colorado beetles were eradicated from British soil 50 years ago following a vigilant campaign in the 1970s. However, larvae from the insects were discovered in a potato field in Kent in 2023, marking the first known return of the species.
While quick action by the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) and DEFRA meant the situation was kept under control, Titchmarsh still urges the public to be vigilant.
He said: 'It devastates potato crops and we need all the crops we can get in this country. It's so savage it'll wipe crops out. It's like locusts – it's that fast.' He added that the most effective way to avoid a disaster is to 'stamp it out before it becomes reality'. However, he later reflected on how the outbreak of the 1970s brought the gardening community together.
Colorado beetles are typically between 6mm to 11 mm in size and have distinctive yellow and black stripes on their shells. Meanwhile, their larvae are typically 15 mm long and a reddish colour.
In the wild, they can weaken crops, like potatoes and aubergines, and reduce their yield. They are also known to strip the foliage from tomatoes and peppers.
The beetle has been known to be imported into the UK on different food items. These include leafy vegetables, salad leaves, fresh herbs, grain and frozen vegetables.
Therefore, experts are urging people to check these items. Equally, they also need to keep an eye on any vegetables picked from their gardens and allotments before consuming them.
Professor Nicola Spence, the Environment Department's chief plant health officer, said that the Colorado beetle 'poses a significant threat to plants and the wider potato industry'. She also added that the public have an important role to play in helping to protect UK biosecurity.
The public have been urged to report suspected sightings to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). They should also include a photo and location details.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Prince Harry's plan for kids' future 'makes no sense', says royal expert
A Royal expert has questioned Harry and Meghan's plan for their children's futures. The Sussex family may no longer be active as royals or carry out duties for the King Charles. But despite their controversial withdrawal from the royal family, they reportedly are open to their children playing their part in the monarchy. Sources close to the Sussexes have said that the pair do in fact want Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who just turned four, to retain their royal titles, so they will be able to choose to become working royals if they want to when they reach adulthood. It comes after the source claimed Harry and Meghan feared passports for their children were being held up due to the use of their HRH titles. It was claimed that the Sussexes were left frustrated as they waited months for British passports to arrive, and reportedly believed it was due to the fact they included their children's royal titles on the application. But former BBC royal expert Jennie Bond has questioned why Harry and Meghan appear so keen to cling onto titles for their children - even though they have previously hit out against the institution of monarchy. The expert told the Mirror: "I really don't understand why, having extricated themselves from a life they did not enjoy and in which Harry has publicly spoken of 'feeling trapped', they want to give their children the option of re-joining. It makes no sense. "Who knows what's going to happen in the future? But it's very hard to see how two children who are clearly now more American than British would want to change their whole way of life and become working members of the royal family." Archie and Lilibet were given prince and princess titles when their grandfather King Charles became monarch in 2022. The first time their titles were formally announced was after Lilibet's christening in March 2023. It is said that the passport delay caused Harry to approach the possibility of changing his family surname to Spencer in a nod to his late mother, Princess Diana. And Jennie added: "I think Harry has always been more Spencer than Windsor, so if he was ever going to change his name, it would be to Spencer. "But this would be a final nail in the coffin of his relationship with his father and his brother. It would amount to a public declaration that he no longer saw himself as part of the royal family." There has been continued controversy over the Sussexes' HRH titles since the pair quit their royal roles five years ago. As part of their Megxit negotiations with the Palace, Meghan and the Duke of Sussex agreed to stop using 'Her Royal Highness' and 'His Royal Highness' at the end of March 2020. They still retain the styles, with Harry having had his since birth, but they are essentially held in abeyance, and so are not in active use. However, earlier this year, it emerged that Meghan had used her HRH style on a gift basket sent to make-up entrepreneur Jamie Kern Lima last year, with a monogrammed card reading: 'With Compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex'. Kern Lima showed an image of the present in footage of her podcast interview with Meghan. It contained a jar of Meghan's jam which she has started selling as part of her As Ever lifestyle business brand. A source described the basket as a 'personal gift'. The duchess's representatives denied that the couple used their royal titles, but a source later said that the Sussexes did not use HRH publicly, but retained the style, and did not use it for commercial purposes. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Wales Online
8 hours ago
- Wales Online
The latest postcode lottery winners in Wales as two areas win big
The latest postcode lottery winners in Wales as two areas win big People living in two parts of Wales are celebrating significant windfalls Swansea residents Dimuthu, Alan, Tracey, Gemma, and Kay-Marie with Danyl Johnson (third-left), from the People's Postcode Lottery (Image: The Postcode Lottery ) People living in 24 streets in Wales have landed cash windfalls over the course of the last 30 days thanks to the People's Postcode Lottery and two groups of residents in particular have a huge reason to celebrate. While postcode lottery players in 17 different areas banked a cool £1,000 each there was a particularly special reason to celebrate for those living on CF38 2RE in Llantwit Fardre after receiving cheques for a whopping £33,333 each on May 31. And life was even sweeter for 11 neighbours living in SA1 6XS in Swansea, who won £90,909 each on Saturday, May 10. Among them was mum-of-three Gemma Archer who suffered a serious injury on Easter Sunday while roller-skating and required major surgery. Within 24 hours her life was changed for the better when she won a share the prize. She said: "I was in hospital having an operation and the very next day I've won over £90,000. I'm still in shock. I couldn't breathe. It's life-changing. I just really, really wasn't expecting it. It's really strange as it doesn't happen to people like me. "For the first time in two and half weeks there is no pain right now. The adrenaline and everything have just kicked in. I'm in a world of my own." Click here to read more. Article continues below It was a particularly lucky month for Swansea with six separate streets banking cash. Players pay £12 per month to enter the £1,000 daily draw and there's also a weekly draw on a Thursday that awards £10 each to players in 1,000 postcodes. One third of the price of every ticket bought is donated to charity. People's Postcode Lottery is a subscription lottery which raises money for charities. Players win cash prizes and good causes receive support. Players sign up with their postcode and pay £12 per month. They are then automatically entered into every draw and prizes are announced every day of the month. A total of 33% of the ticket price goes to charities. For money-saving tips sign up to our Money newsletter here. People's Postcode Lottery winners between May 10 and June 6: June 6 CF3 0AS - £1,000 (St Mellons, Cardiff) CH5 3QF - £1,000 (Hawarden, Deeside) June 5 SA8 3DF - £1,000 (Pontardawe, Swansea) June 4 CF31 3DB - £1,000 (Bridgend) SA62 6AN - £1,000 (Roch, Pembrokeshire) June 3 CF47 0NA (Merthyr Tydfil) - £1,000 June 2 CF81 9RN (Pontlottyn) June 1 SA61 2TY - £1,000 (Haverfordwest) SA1 6FQ - £1,000 (Swansea) May 31 CF38 2RE - £33,333 (Llantwit Fardre) May 30 LL54 5BJ - £1,000 (Trefor) May 29 CF24 4BG - £1,000 (Cardiff) May 28 CF81 9BP - £1,000 (Aberbargoed) May 22 NP10 9FR - £1,000 (Rogerstone) May 20 CH4 0FT- £1,000 (Flintshire) May 19 SY16 2BT - £1,000 (Newtown) SA3 4TF- £1,000 (Swansea) May 16 SA2 0FL- £1,000 (Swansea) May 15 SA3 3JJ - £1,000 (Swansea) May 14 CF36 3AY - £1,000 (Porthcawl) SA11 3ET - £1,000 (Neath) May 13 CF48 4NW - £1,000 (Aberfan) May 12 SA13 2ND - £1,000 (Port Talbot) May 10 Article continues below SA1 6XS - £90,909 (Swansea) Get daily news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. See our Privacy Notice.
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Alan Titchmarsh issues warning over brutal pest that can 'wipe out crops'
Alan Titchmarsh has raised the alarm over the return of a brutal pest, which is said to pose a serious risk to the food industry, after a sighting in Kent in 2023 Gardening pro and national treasure Alan Titchmarsh has warned fellow green-fingered enthusiasts to be on the lookout for one nasty pest. He has warned that this destructive menace, namely the Colorado beetle, can completely 'wipe out crops', with people already wary of other creatures such as slugs, mealybugs, ants and aphids, known for destroying plants. At the 2025 Chelsea Flower Show, Alan warned that the tiny black and yellow-striped pest is one of the biggest threats to the UK's food security, as reported by the Daily Mail. And it could pose a risk to the British potato industry. Colorado beetles were eradicated from British soil 50 years ago following a vigilant campaign in the 1970s. However, larvae from the insects were discovered in a potato field in Kent in 2023, marking the first known return of the species. While quick action by the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) and DEFRA meant the situation was kept under control, Titchmarsh still urges the public to be vigilant. He said: 'It devastates potato crops and we need all the crops we can get in this country. It's so savage it'll wipe crops out. It's like locusts – it's that fast.' He added that the most effective way to avoid a disaster is to 'stamp it out before it becomes reality'. However, he later reflected on how the outbreak of the 1970s brought the gardening community together. Colorado beetles are typically between 6mm to 11 mm in size and have distinctive yellow and black stripes on their shells. Meanwhile, their larvae are typically 15 mm long and a reddish colour. In the wild, they can weaken crops, like potatoes and aubergines, and reduce their yield. They are also known to strip the foliage from tomatoes and peppers. The beetle has been known to be imported into the UK on different food items. These include leafy vegetables, salad leaves, fresh herbs, grain and frozen vegetables. Therefore, experts are urging people to check these items. Equally, they also need to keep an eye on any vegetables picked from their gardens and allotments before consuming them. Professor Nicola Spence, the Environment Department's chief plant health officer, said that the Colorado beetle 'poses a significant threat to plants and the wider potato industry'. She also added that the public have an important role to play in helping to protect UK biosecurity. The public have been urged to report suspected sightings to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). They should also include a photo and location details.
