Leaf-eating pest hits Beijing's plans for green 2008

Beijing's plans to host a 'green Olympics' in 2008 are under threat from a leaf-eating pest that has infested nine of the city's 10 districts.

Wei Diansheng, director of the State Forestry Administration's tree-planting department, yesterday said the American fall webworm - hyphantria cunea - was first detected in 1979 in the northeastern province of Liaoning , but had since spread to Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Shaanxi and Beijing.

Mr Wei said the insect had a hearty appetite for more than 300 varieties of mainland plants, including vegetables and crops, and had been spotted this year in hundreds of Beijing's villages.

'An increasing number have been found in Beijing and its neighbouring areas recently. In the capital, the insects have been found in 933 villages in nine districts, much higher than the 90 villages in five districts last year,' he said.

Administration spokesman Cao Qingyao said: '[The insect] seriously endangers China's biological safety, especially threatening Beijing's pledge to create a 'green Olympics'.'

The term 'green Olympics' mainly refers to Beijing's commitment to improve the city's environment by 2008. The capital is notorious for its spring sandstorms and the skyline often disappears behind its murky, noxious atmosphere.

Wu Jian , the administration's chief engineer, said if prompt action was not taken, the 'green Olympics' would be turned into the 'brown Olympics'.