Colorado beetles reported in England, Wales and Scotland, 1980

Abstract

SUMMARYIn 1980, 110 adults of the Colorado beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), were found associated with imports in England and Wales; 89 of these specimens were alive. This is the highest annual total for three years and the highest annual total of live beetles for 28 years. Details of these finds are presented. The outstanding features were the large numbers associated with imports of Italian spinach (55) and Portuguese timber (25). Fourteen beetles were found in Scotland of which one was alive and 13 were dead preserved specimens reported as a hoax. No breeding colony of Colorado, beetle was found. Live female beetles kept in the laboratory after capture laid an average of 871 eggs each (range 165–2462) and the average percentage hatch was 46 (range 0–73). Observations on egg laying by beetles found during the past six years showed that 34 per cent of females were capable of laying fertile eggs when they arrived in the United Kingdom.