Japanese Beetles Could Spread Across Europe from Zurich
Published: Tuesday, Jul 25th 2023, 11:41
Updated At: Friday, Oct 13th 2023, 14:12
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The Japanese beetle has been discovered in Kloten ZH, the first population of the pest north of the Alps. This invasive species threatens crops and green spaces, and a race against time has begun to eradicate it before it spreads further. Immediate measures have been taken to combat the beetles, including a ban on watering lawns and green spaces until the end of September, and the treatment of plants with insecticides in private gardens. It is not yet known where the population originated, but it is likely to have been brought in from the south of the Alps or from northern Italy. The Japanese beetle is easily recognisable due to its five light tufts of hair on the sides of its body, and it feeds on around 300 different plants from various families, including berries, fruit trees, vines, maize, roses, and trees such as maple, birch and linden. If the eradication efforts fail, the beetle could spread to other parts of Europe, causing significant damage to crops and green spaces.
©Keystone/SDA
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