The Kiss Me Slow Beetle

The small tan-coloured insect, which measures just three millimetres, has never been recorded before in Britain, but it is known to exist in other parts of Europe, especially France. "It has turned up in an area which remains a stronghold for mistletoe, which suggests the weevil is an overlooked native member of British fauna rather than a recent arrival," said Les Rogers, manager of the Brockhampton estate. "Our discovery highlights the wildlife value of old orchards, especially in Herefordshire. This will reinforce our plans to enhance the survival of these precious habitats".

The National Trust's biological survey team, which monitors wildlife on Trust land, found the beetle while looking for other creatures known to live in the mistletoe.

"This is a really exciting find because it is the first time anyone from the Trust's biological survey team has discovered a creature which has never before been recorded in Britain" said Andy Foster, who discovered the weevil.

He and fellow biologist professor Mike Morris now plan to write a scientific paper on the find.

If that’s not a challenge to Worcestershire’s biological recorders, we don’t know what is! In Herefordshire - Damn it! - and only just across the border. They must be here!

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