A black and white beetle which can damage woodland and garden plants has been found in the UK after being imported from China, the government warned today.

Several Citrus Longhorn beetles have been found after they were brought in on Acer plants, or Japanese Maple, via the Netherlands and distributed by mail order.

The adult beetle lays eggs into the bark of trees and larva develops inside the tree.

They can eat away at a wide range of trees or shrubs, such as oak, beech, ash, maple, apple, pear, willow, hibiscus, horse chestnut, hornbeam, hazel, birch, mulberry and rose.

They can grow to between 21 and 37 mm in length, taking one to three years to emerge from inside plant stems and tree trunks.

During that time, there are no obvious signs of infestation or the presence of a larva or pupa.

When they emerge, the black beetles can be spotted by their distinctive white markings and long horns or antennae which are longer than the body and feature white bands.

Exit holes can be just above ground level or just below.

Other signs that the beetle has been around include scraped sections of bark, chewed leaves and saw-dust around holes.

The bulk of those found have been in the south of England, but others have been discovered in Lancashire.

"If you see one of these distinctive beetles, please isolate it in a sealed container and contact your local Plant Health and Seeds Inspector (PHSI)," said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in a statement.