LONDON, May 17 (Xinhua) -- An insect which posed a risk to oak and silver birch trees has finally been eradicated from Britain, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced Friday.
It has taken six years of trapping and surveillance work by the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the Forestry Commission to make sure the Asian Longhorn Beetle (ALB) has been eradicated.
The first of the beetles was initially discovered in Kent in 2012, most likely introduced through infested imported wood packaging material.
"The pest is a serious threat to a range of broadleaved trees, including species grown commercially for timber and fruit production," said Defra.
Lord Gardiner, Defra's Biosecurity Minister said Britain now identifies and assesses new threats to trees by using the UK Plant Health Risk Register, the most comprehensive in the world, containing over 1000 pests and diseases which are regularly reviewed and prioritized for action.
