A beetle native to the Mediterranean sea made its way to Durham in a supermarket potted plant - surprising shoppers and entomologists alike. 

A five cm long European Rhinoceros Beetle (which has the Latin name Oryctes nasicornis) was found in the soil of a fruit tree root purchased from a Tesco store in County Durham. The tree had been imported from the Netherlands, where the Rhinoceros Beetle thrives. 

The beetle, which was described by charity Bug Life as "charismatic", is only the latest horticultural hitchhiker that has caught a lift overseas in gardening paraphernalia. 

In 2013, Angie Hill, from Worcestershire, found a beetle of the same species in her garden. This beetle was certified by Buglife, and was the very first European Rhinoceros Beetle recorded in the UK. 

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In 2021, a man in London found one of the world's most venomous spiders, the Brazilian wandering spider, in his bag of bananas. 

The European Rhinoceros Beetle is not thought to be an invasive threat to UK species but highlights a weakness in current biosecurity measures, says invertebrate conservation charity Buglife.

Buglife has been raising awareness of horticultural hitchhikers for several years, concerned about the free ride soil-dwelling species can get to the UK.

Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) are recognised as one of the most significant threats to biodiversity and a number of species are known to have already made their way to the UK in potted plants and soils, in some cases becoming widespread.

David Smith, Buglife Advocacy and Social Change Officer said: "While it is fascinating to observe unfamiliar species of insects in the UK, it is extremely concerning that species as large as the European Rhinoceros Beetle can make their way here undetected in products.

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"The horticultural hitchhiking pathway for non-native species must be closed to prevent further harm to, and loss of UK nature."

One of the big crises facing British invertebrate ecology at the moment is the invasion of foreign terrestrial flatworms. Multiple subspecies of the flatworm have been found across the UK, such as the New Zealand Flatworm, Australian Flatworm, Yellow Striped Flatworm and the Obama Flatworm. 

These species feed on native earthworms, which themselves are vital for healthy soils, damaging the biomass makeup of our soil. Flatworms also have no natural predators in the UK, and can rapidly reproduce, allowing them to easily outcompete native species. 

A spokesperson for Buglife said: "Many species that travel in soils are small, hard to detect and easily transported once on our shores. Other island nations do not allow the importation of soils or products like potted plants that contain soils, to protect native species. The UK has not reciprocated this requirement and continues to allow soil goods to be imported via the EU.

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Europe has many species not already present in the UK, as it shares a land border with Asia and the Middle East; further terrestrial species could travel from these regions of their own accord but would not make it to the UK without transportation by humans across the sea. 

"Buglife is recommending that the UK Government ban the importation of soils and products containing soils to protect native wildlife. Plants are readily transported around the world bare-rooted, or in non-organic material - this allows inspectors a much greater opportunity to spot non-native species and reduces the chance of biosecurity breaches."

If you are concerned that you have found a non-native species in the UK, please send your sighting, with supporting photographs, to info@buglife.org.uk.  Additionally, you can help Buglife better understand how non-native flatworms are spreading around the UK, and maybe even alert them to newly arrived species, via the PotWatch Campaign.