London: Airport officials at Stansted,
about 56 km from here, have captured a painted grasshopper,
the first among its species that reached Britain on a flight
from India.
The colourful insect was found by inspectors from the
Food and Environment Research Agency.
FERA's Sharon Reid who identified the insect, said
that it was not unusual for inspectors to find stray insects
in aeroplane holds, but this was the first alive and
well-painted grasshopper they had ever seen.
"The species, which has a voracious appetite, is a
pest in India and Pakistan where it damages food crops," Reid
said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Saturday, October 24, 2009, 17:29