Dutch Elm disease changed the British landscape in the 1970s by killing large numbers of elm trees.

BBC: By BBC Environment Correspondent Robert Pigott

East Sussex has one of the country's largest populations of mature elms after controls were set up in 1973 to limit the spread of Dutch elm disease.

BBC: Protesters spend night up Brighton city centre elm tree

Many of the maples now being devoured by China's beetles were planted by his father, also Chicago's mayor, when Dutch elm disease swept through the city nearly three decades ago.

ECONOMIST: The invaders from China | The

The effect of Dutch elm disease and sudden oak death on the island's trees will also be discussed at Mount Tabor Hall in Port St Mary at 19:30 GMT on Thursday.

BBC: Ash dieback: Government holds talk on potential threat

Tests showed the bacteria also killed Dutch elm disease.

FORBES: Energy & Genius

Experts have warned that if ash dieback was to become widely established in the UK, the impact could be as serious as the 1970s outbreak of Dutch elm disease, which saw millions of trees destroyed.

BBC: Ash tree