The same goes for robotic spoons that make it easier for the infirm to feed themselves, power suits that help lift heavy grocery bags, and a variety of machines that watch the house, vacuum the carpet and so on.

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"We have had a lot through from Job Centres where very heavy sanctions have been imposed upon them and they have not been able to feed themselves, " says Roslyn McVeigh, who manages two food banks near Glasgow.

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The larvae are the main heavy feeders and they eat mainly aphids, but the fear is that when the aphids run out they feed on all sorts of other things - including the native ladybirds.

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