Defra and APHA say the Kent incursion found in 2023 has been eliminated, while urging growers, gardeners, and allotment holders to stay alert and report suspected sightings.
A major potato pest has been eradicated from the UK, the UK government announced on Thursday, 11 December 2025, after extensive investigative work and surveillance by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and Defra.
According to the government release, the pest was the Colorado beetle (Colorado potato beetle) – described as a major threat to potato crops. Officials said the beetle can completely strip leaves from potato plants and can also affect other crops including tomatoes, aubergines, and peppers, with potentially significant economic impacts if left uncontrolled.
Timeline: discovery in 2023, then two years with no further finds
The government said the Colorado beetle was discovered in Kent in July 2023 following laboratory diagnosis of samples, with one additional finding later that year. The announcement notes that no further beetles have been found in the space of two years, and that this absence of detections meant “eradication status has been reached.”
The release credits the cooperation and vigilance of farmers, gardeners and allotment holders, alongside biosecurity measures led by APHA and Defra.
Officials said surveillance activities included regular inspections of the original outbreak fields and selected potato fields in Kent, in part to rule out incursions linked to blow-over from mainland Europe.
Government and plant health leaders urge continued vigilance
Farming Minister Angela Eagle said the announcement was “great news for British farmers” and that the government will continue working with partners to protect UK crops from future threats.
Defra’s Chief Plant Health Officer, Professor Nicola Spence, called it a “huge team effort,” while stressing that preventing further outbreaks depends on ongoing public reporting of suspected sightings, including a photo and location details.
APHA Chief Executive Richard Lewis described the outcome as a “significant achievement” for operational teams working with Defra, the potato industry, and the public.
What the beetle looks like – and what to do if you suspect one
The government release states that the Colorado beetle does not pose a risk to human health. It also describes the beetle as highly distinctive – orange-yellow with 10 black stripes on its body.
If you suspect a Colorado beetle in England and Wales, the guidance in the release is:
- Do not let it go – capture it in a secure container
- Report suspected sightings to APHA with a photo and location details
- Telephone: 0300 1000 313
- Email: planthealth.info@apha.gov.uk
The release also provides separate contact guidance for Scotland (via the Scottish Government’s horticulture and marketing unit / local RPID officer, plus an email for non-agricultural crops) and for Northern Ireland (DAERA’s Plant Health Inspection Branch, including a phone number and email address).
Background: past incursions and public awareness work
The government release notes that the Colorado beetle has previously been detected on imported plant products (such as leafy vegetables, salad leaves and fresh herbs). It also references periodic outbreaks between 1901 and the 1970s that were “swiftly eradicated” through inspections and public vigilance.
The release also highlights public awareness activity, including an APHA exhibit at the 2025 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, described as gold award-winning and visited by King Charles III.
Source: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency. Read the original release here
Image: Credit APHA