HSE Horizon Scanning Initiative June 2006.
“New and Emerging Pests”
In this report, “pests” refers to flora, fauna or diseases. New and emerging pests which were previously unknown or rare in the UK could appear or appear more often as a result of climate change, migration, transport of people and transport of goods including livestock and food products.
Climate change would probably increase the habitat range of insects from the continent to the UK or increase the range of insects currently limited to the south of the country. Such insects may spread disease e.g. chikungunya or may damage ecosystems, especially if there are no naturally occurring predators.
A warmer climate, especially milder winters, would increase the numbers of endemic insects e.g. aphids, that survive the winter, leading to greater damage to plants.
The duty of care related human health related consequences of new pests may be direct, e.g. contact with disease vectors or indirect e.g. increased use of biocides.
Property-damage pests could also spread.