European weevils threaten fruit crop

Pear harvests in Britain may be in danger from an invasive European weevil which has been spotted for the first time at an orchard in Kent.

The tiny pest, called Anthonomus spilotus is known to damage pear crops in continental Europe. Scientists at the Natural History Museum realised it had spread to the UK after a farmer from Maidstone in Kent sent in a bug to its identification team.

Like most weevils, the beetles have a long “nose”, or rostrum, which they use to bore into plants. They attack the leaf buds of pear trees early in the spring, so reducing the fruit. The weevil is suspected to have been brought in from southern Europe.