A tiny beetle which is threatening thousands of elms is about to meet its match.

The 8mm elm bark beetle, which has killed millions of trees by spreading the deadly elm disease, is to be lured into traps using a fake beetle scent.

The synthetic pheromone, developed by scientists at Sussex University in the Eighties, has not been used for 20 years.

But tree officers at Brighton and Hove City Council are so concerned about the risks of a new elm disease epidemic they have ordered a fresh batch of the scent along with several traps, which they hope residents will agree to install in their gardens.

Officers have received nearly 380 reports of elm infections in the past few weeks and fear unless action is taken swiftly the city's entire 17,000 elm collection could be at risk.

The elm bark beetle, or Scolytus scolytus, has already claimed several trees this summer.

Its highest-profile victim was one of the 25m elms bordering Preston Park in Brighton. It is due to be felled on Thursday in an attempt to stop the disease from spreading.

Rob Greenland, one of the council's arboricultural officers, said the trees faced a fresh attack from beetles due to emerge from their eggs in the summer's second breeding cycle.

It is hoped the traps will help officers monitor the number and location of the beetles in an attempt to stop them from spreading their deadly fungus. He said: "When a beetle finds a suitable tree it puts out an aggregation pheromone which tells other beetles it is good for breeding. Other beetles then home in on the plume of scent."

About 60 traps will be distributed in Portslade and Mile Oak because officers believe the city is most vulnerable to beetles blown in by the wind at its western boundary. Next year the area could be widened.

Sussex is renowned as the best place to see elms in England after many were saved from the epidemic in the Seventies.

Residents have been asked to look for early signs of elm disease because the key to halting the disease is to spot an infection early and deal with it promptly.

The council's arboricultural team can be contacted on 01273 292187.