Records are needed for the Rosemary beetle (Chrysolina americana) in Sussex. This photo was taken on a visit to a lavender farm in Surrey recently but the beetle is said to be in Sussex now, having spread from London, where it was first discovered in the UK in 1994. Native to eastern Europe and the Mediterranean region, it is thought to have been imported on plants such as Rosemary, Lavender and Thyme. The adults are very shiny with metallic green wing cases embellished with purple stripes but they cannot fly. Both larvae and adults feed on flowers and leaves of Lavender. The Royal Horticultural Society recommends getting rid of them by hand picking and stamping on them. If you find any please let us know and we will pass on the details to the Sussex beetle recorder.
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