Shocked mum finds beetle in her food shopping delivery

9:00pm Thursday 4th October 2012 in News

Kelly Keeling, 35, found an insect believed to be a devil's coachhorse beetle in her Asda shopping. Kelly Keeling, 35, found an insect believed to be a devil's coachhorse beetle in her Asda shopping.

A MOTHER was given a shock when a scorpian-like beetle was found in her food shopping.


Kelly Keeling, 32, of Southview Road, Vange, was unpacking her Asda groceries when the insect crawled out of a carrier bag.


At first she thought it was a scorpion, but is believed to be a devil’s coachhorse beetle- which can give a painful nip due to their pincer-like jaws.


Mrs Keeling said: “When I saw that there was something in the bag I assumed it must have been a spider. They really don’t bother me at all so I just tipped the bag over but then out crawled this thing which I was convinced looked like a baby scorpion. It’s tail was moving up and down and it didn’t look like anything I had seen in this country before. I was so frightened.


“My little boy is autistic and was helping me with the shopping but luckily he was unpacking a different bag. When he saw the insect he just starting screaming.”

It is not known how the insect got into Miss Keeling’s shopping, which was delivered from the Asda store in Miles Gray Road, Basildon, at 9.20am Tuesday.

The supermarket has since replaced all chilled items from the delivery and are currently investigating the incident.

Comments (20)

9:11pm Thu 4 Oct 12

beyond the valley of the asbos says...

i think the phrase is "man up"
i think the phrase is "man up" beyond the valley of the asbos

9:11pm Thu 4 Oct 12

bignosechaff says...

They are quite common this time of the year. They do act aggressively but are harmless
They are quite common this time of the year. They do act aggressively but are harmless bignosechaff

9:46pm Thu 4 Oct 12

boom says...

Wonder where Mr Keeling was ?
Wonder where Mr Keeling was ? boom

9:52pm Thu 4 Oct 12

JH_123 says...

boom wrote:
Wonder where Mr Keeling was ?
Who cares? It's irrelevant to the story...
[quote][p][bold]boom[/bold] wrote: Wonder where Mr Keeling was ?[/p][/quote]Who cares? It's irrelevant to the story... JH_123

10:09pm Thu 4 Oct 12

DogsMessInLeigh says...

i once found some Navel Oranges in my shopping bags once.
i once found some Navel Oranges in my shopping bags once. DogsMessInLeigh

10:32pm Thu 4 Oct 12

j-w says...

did you just gaze at them or did you run to the Echo!


I had a massive spider run across my lounge, curiously I also had some shopping delivered by Asda earlier this week, do I get some free biscuits?
did you just gaze at them or did you run to the Echo! I had a massive spider run across my lounge, curiously I also had some shopping delivered by Asda earlier this week, do I get some free biscuits? j-w

10:37pm Thu 4 Oct 12

emcee says...

Good grief!
I really do not know why on earth I bother with this website? Stories are becoming more ridiculous by the day. The reason I stopped buying the physical paper was because all it contained was adverts and dire journalism and editing but I am now beginning to question whether free access to this site is even worth my time.
Good grief! I really do not know why on earth I bother with this website? Stories are becoming more ridiculous by the day. The reason I stopped buying the physical paper was because all it contained was adverts and dire journalism and editing but I am now beginning to question whether free access to this site is even worth my time. emcee

10:38pm Thu 4 Oct 12

muffindamule says...

JH_123 wrote:
boom wrote:
Wonder where Mr Keeling was ?
Who cares? It's irrelevant to the story...
Yes but he does make exceedingly good cakes.
[quote][p][bold]JH_123[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]boom[/bold] wrote: Wonder where Mr Keeling was ?[/p][/quote]Who cares? It's irrelevant to the story...[/p][/quote]Yes but he does make exceedingly good cakes. muffindamule

11:23pm Thu 4 Oct 12

beyond the valley of the asbos says...

muffindamule wrote:
JH_123 wrote:
boom wrote:
Wonder where Mr Keeling was ?
Who cares? It's irrelevant to the story...
Yes but he does make exceedingly good cakes.
where's the thumbs up when you need it?
[quote][p][bold]muffindamule[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]JH_123[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]boom[/bold] wrote: Wonder where Mr Keeling was ?[/p][/quote]Who cares? It's irrelevant to the story...[/p][/quote]Yes but he does make exceedingly good cakes.[/p][/quote]where's the thumbs up when you need it? beyond the valley of the asbos

5:46am Fri 5 Oct 12

Brunning999 says...

Did I miss the news worthy story?

When caught did she enjoy the music?
Did I miss the news worthy story? When caught did she enjoy the music? Brunning999

6:28am Fri 5 Oct 12

Eric the Red says...

Ah - wake up and smell the compensation!
Ah - wake up and smell the compensation! Eric the Red

7:05am Fri 5 Oct 12

leighman says...

What on earth is a 'scorpian'?
What on earth is a 'scorpian'? leighman

7:45am Fri 5 Oct 12

SpaffSpiff84 says...

This is absolutely outrageous in a civilised society that a harmless beetle native to the uk should be found in a shopping bag in the uk, just what is happening in this world? Im in total shock, forget syria, forget economic meltdown, THIS is the real hard-hitting issue that should be being discussed a full & frank manner, forget sensitivites this demands an urgent enquiry immediately
This is absolutely outrageous in a civilised society that a harmless beetle native to the uk should be found in a shopping bag in the uk, just what is happening in this world? Im in total shock, forget syria, forget economic meltdown, THIS is the real hard-hitting issue that should be being discussed a full & frank manner, forget sensitivites this demands an urgent enquiry immediately SpaffSpiff84

8:00am Fri 5 Oct 12

Basildon.lad.21 says...

JH_123 wrote:
boom wrote:
Wonder where Mr Keeling was ?
Who cares? It's irrelevant to the story...
Probably in prison
[quote][p][bold]JH_123[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]boom[/bold] wrote: Wonder where Mr Keeling was ?[/p][/quote]Who cares? It's irrelevant to the story...[/p][/quote]Probably in prison Basildon.lad.21

2:01pm Fri 5 Oct 12

fatboy1842 says...

Very disappointed - I have just been shopping and have not been able to find any insects in my bags only the usual things - tea, biscuits, veg, meat etc. Just to make sure I'll check the boot of the car and under the sofa, don't want to miss out on my free insects.
Very disappointed - I have just been shopping and have not been able to find any insects in my bags only the usual things - tea, biscuits, veg, meat etc. Just to make sure I'll check the boot of the car and under the sofa, don't want to miss out on my free insects. fatboy1842

4:26pm Fri 5 Oct 12

Soouthchurch59 says...

'mum finds beetle in her food shopping'

Yet, in a Supermarket car park in Germany. She'd be more likely to find, - food shopping in a Beetle!
'mum finds beetle in her food shopping' Yet, in a Supermarket car park in Germany. She'd be more likely to find, - food shopping in a Beetle! Soouthchurch59

4:36pm Fri 5 Oct 12

Eric Whim says...

it's a wonder she managed to stop screaming in panic and had the bravery to get down off the kitchen stool to phone the Echo.

Where's the regulation 'glum faced' Echo photo?

Get a flaing grip woman, it's a tiny insect.
it's a wonder she managed to stop screaming in panic and had the bravery to get down off the kitchen stool to phone the Echo. Where's the regulation 'glum faced' Echo photo? Get a flaing grip woman, it's a tiny insect. Eric Whim

8:58pm Fri 5 Oct 12

Alec Cikes says...

How funny... this little beasty will bring you luck, if you didn't kill it !
How funny... this little beasty will bring you luck, if you didn't kill it ! Alec Cikes

11:52am Sat 6 Oct 12

DogsMessInLeigh says...

any updates on this one yet..?
any updates on this one yet..? DogsMessInLeigh

11:38pm Sat 6 Oct 12

Nebs says...

DogsMessInLeigh wrote:
any updates on this one yet..?
In Mondays paper we get to read the beetles side of the story.
[quote][p][bold]DogsMessInLeigh[/bold] wrote: any updates on this one yet..?[/p][/quote]In Mondays paper we get to read the beetles side of the story. Nebs

Comments are closed on this article.

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