Topic: Be aware colorado beetle

[return of the mac]

Just checked out redclangers post about the ladybird lookalike thought the worst that it could be this pest i heard about. Here in scotland we are taking this VERY seriously. So be aware of this and if you find one (dont know if theyre in all of britain or just up here) isolate it in a sealed box and take it to, yes the copshop (thats how serious) Lets destroy them for eating our tatties!! >:(

http://http://www.scotland.gov.uk/news/releas98_2/pr1524.htm

Id show you a picture but ive no idea how to- google it

[gavin]

This one has piccies http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/pestnote/colorado.htm

All best - Gavin

[kenkew]

Taken very seriously in the UK. Here in Belgium they don't seem to bother much, it's left up to each person to deal with it as he thinks fit. My friend had them on his plot last year, he just goes around squashing them. He also killed lots of ladybird larva thinking it was colorado!
Here's a couple of pics of the ones from his plot, thankfully his plot is a long way from mine!
Pic 1 is larva, pic 2 is the beetle. Sorry about the focus.

[GREENWIZARD]

rotm have you came across these beetles in aberdeen? today on the beechgrove potting shed they were saying to be on the look out for the harlequin ladybird again but no mention of the colorado beetle.i came across a new zealand flatworm last week in my back garden~horrible thing! they've to be reported to Dr Brian Boag ( bboag@scri.sari.ac.uk ).

[westsussexlottie]

what is a new zealand flatworm????

Please advise?

[gavin]

A real nasty apparently - eats all your earth worms!

more here http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/insects.htm

All best - Gavin

[GREENWIZARD]

new zealand flatworm & egg

here's the culprit wsl.if you find any destroy them in a concentrated salt solution.

[Svea]

hmm, looks like an ordinary potato beetle to me.
my grandma used to make me go thorugh the potato plot and pick these off the leaves and into a glass jar filled with water and washing up liquid, for their last rites (this is years back in germany)

how dangerous are they? regular pest control will contain them?
svea

[kenkew]

Svea....read the first post.

[Svea]

i did, ken.
if i find one here, i will know what to do.

all i was saying is commenting how common they seem to be over there....

argh. i must have been half asleep when i posted my last comments. still would be interested just how much damage they do do - wherever they are 'legal'

[westsussexlottie]

Yuk. NZ flatworm looks vile!
Thankfully haven't seen any (yet).
We seem to have loads of earthworms though  :D

[kenkew]

Must take 'em a long time to get to the UK.

[Rose.mary]

Do they bore straight through the centre of the world or do they come over sea and land ;D :P? 
  Rosemary