Painted grasshopper from India stopped at UK airport

Airport officials in London have stopped an unusual stowaway from entering the country after a painted grasshopper was found on a flight from India.
Inspectors from the Food and Environemnt Research Agency are caring for the colourful insect after it was intercepted at Stansted Airport.
Since being discovered, the 6cm-long uninvited guest has been taking advantage of the hospitality rapidly eating its way through a cabbage plant at the agency's laboratory.
Fera's Sharon Reid, who identified the painted grasshopper, said: "...a single insect like this wouldn't be able to reproduce and is unlikely to survive in our UK climate."
Fera warned this was not always the case with non-native insects - which could potentially cause an outbreak that would damage UK crops or horticulture.
The species, which has a voracious appetite, is a pest in Pakistan and India where it damages food crops including aubergine, citrus, potatoes and tomatoes.
23/10/09 Metro.co.uk, UK

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Categories: Airports Oct 2009, Foreign Oct 2009