A BEETLE that devastates lilies and other flowers is spreading north.

After reaching Yorkshire several years ago, the lily beetle (Lilioceris lilii) has now been reported in parts of the North-East.

The 8mm-long bright red beetle, widespread in Northern Europe and Africa, was brought to the UK during the 19th Century and became established in southern England.

However, its rapid expansion has only take place over the past 20 years, and it is now found in northern counties including Yorkshire and County Durham, and there have been sightings in Newcastle.

The major concern for horticulturists and naturalists is the way it attacks lilies in the wild and in commercial and domestic gardens.

National beetle expert Andrew Duff, writing in the specialist journal British Wild-life, said: "The most worrying trend this year is a big increase in the number of reports of lily beetles attacking the native snake's-head fritillary, one of our most beautiful and rarest wildflowers.

"I am very concerned that this beautiful, but devastating, beetle will devastate our few remaining fritillary meadows unless steps are taken now to monitor them carefully and to eradicate any lily beetle infestations."

The Royal Horticultural Society has also been monitoring the beetle's progress. Entomologist Andrew Salisbury said: "The growing number of specimens sent to us from further north, such as Durham and even parts of Scotland, suggest that it is still on the move.

"This beetle reproduces rapidly and can strip a lily plant in full flower in a matter of days."

In parts of mainland Europe, the beetle is kept in check by six species of parasitic wasp that attack the larvae, but there are only two such species in the United Kingdom.