Call in the swat team! Turkish bee that smuggled itself to UK in family’s suitcase is to be destroyed before it can wreak havoc on our native species
- Family accidentally brings bee back in their luggage found in Turkey and Iran
- The Toy family, of Bristol, found petal cocoon at home and the bee flying outside
- The family had come back from a summer break in Dalman, Turkey a week ago
- Officials plan to catch and kill it after experts warn it endangers British bees
A Turkish bee that was accidentally brought home from holiday by a British family is to be destroyed because it might endanger British species.
The insect, pictured, has been busily building cocoons in the Toy family’s conservatory since they returned from a summer break in Dalaman last week.
The family say the exotic bee waits by the back door of their Bristol home every morning and, as soon as it’s let inside, starts creating intricate nests out of flower petals.
The insect, pictured, has been busily building cocoons in the Toy family’s conservatory since they returned from a summer break in Dalaman last week
However, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed yesterday that it plans to catch and kill the creature, after experts warned it could endanger native British species by spreading deadly viruses or outcompeting local rivals.
A Defra spokesman said: ‘We are making arrangements to collect the bee for formal identification and destruction.’
Ashley Toy, 49, and his daughter Amelia, 19, contacted the British Beekeepers Association after spotting the bee, later identified as Osmia avosetta – a solitary species found only in Turkey and Iran.
![The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed yesterday that it plans to catch and kill the creature, after experts warned it could endanger native British species by spreading deadly viruses or outcompeting local rivals. The city of Bristol is pictured above [File photo]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/07/30/01/16654858-7299533-image-a-16_1564447345451.jpg)
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed yesterday that it plans to catch and kill the creature, after experts warned it could endanger native British species by spreading deadly viruses or outcompeting local rivals. The city of Bristol is pictured above [File photo]