Mystery Bug Invades Britain

This sounds like something out of a horror novel. A mysterious red and black insect has been found in parts of London, baffling experts who have no idea what it is. Ominously, it is spreading rapidly. From BBC News:

The tiny red and black bug first appeared in the Natural History Museum's Wildlife Garden in March 2007. Since then it has become the most common insect in the garden and has also been spotted in Regent's Park and Gray's Inn. The bug appears to be harmless, but there is potential for it to spread throughout the UK, said experts...

Despite containing more than 28 million insect specimens, the museum failed to find an exact match for the new bug. Experts said it closely resembles the rare species Arocatus roeselii that is usually found in central Europe. But the roeselii bugs are brighter red than this new bug and they are usually associated with alder trees. The National Museum in Prague discovered an exact match to the mystery insect but experts there have also failed to determine exactly what it is. "It seems strange that so many of these bugs should suddenly appear," said Mr Barclay.

Sure, it appears to be harmless for now, but what are the odds it'll remain that way? Haven't they read The Day of the Triffids?

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Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Alex - Wed Jul 30, 2008
Category: Animals | Horror | Unsolved Mysteries | Science Fiction

Comments

It's a bug. Categorize it as "gross" and you're done. Mystery solved.

Posted by BikerPuppy on 07/30/08 at 01:28 PM

Well, the subdued coloration could be a result of the constant cloud cover over the UK. No sun, no bright!

English translation:

I say, the subdued colouration could be a result of the constant cloud cover over Jolly Ole. No sun, no bright, what?

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 07/30/08 at 11:52 PM

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