revealed at the weekend.

And the Citrus Leaf Miner -- a tiny moth -- has already spread across the west of the Island and may have moved east of Devonshire.

Now Department of Agriculture experts are to survey the Island for the insect, which attacks the leaves of citrus trees -- and consult with scientists in other affected countries.

A spokesman for the Department said: "How the pest arrived in Bermuda is a mystery because citrus fruit importation is strictly regulated.'' The Citrus Leaf Miner (CLM) moth is thought to be native to Asia, but spread to the Americas, including Florida and Texas, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America.

Agriculture officials identified the problem last week after a worried member of the public brought in leaves affected by the moth.

The pest attacks mostly leaves, causing distortion and yellowing. But heavy infestation can lead to the moth larvae burrowing into the outer layer of the fruit skin, leaving telltale brown, winding trails.

But the spokesman said: "The insect does not burrow into fruit flesh and therefore the fruit is completely safe to eat.'' The female moth lays an egg on new citrus leaves and the larva begins to eat the leaf when the egg hatches, producing silvery trails, eventually maturing into an adult moth.

The spokesman admitted that attempts to kill off the moth elsewhere have been failures -- although control of the problem has been achieved by a three-pronged attack using insecticides, pruning and the biological warfare using natural predators.

The Agriculture Department man added that the use of pesticides presented problems because the moth larvae are protected by the skin of the leaves.

But he added pesticides Neemix and Agrimek can be used as sprays "if sprays are timed accurately and the trees are closely monitored.'' And the spokesman said: "In the meantime, the Department of Agriculture is asking for the public's help in minimising the damage by pruning any very new growth from their citrus trees.

"The clippings should be destroyed, preferably by burning, as soon as possible to reduce the amount of potential feeding sites.'' Anyone who discovers CLM in their citrus trees, or wants further information on the pest, should contact the Plant Protection Officer on 236-4201.