A devastating beetle proliferated in Switzerland: “Close the windows”

A seventy traps were placed in Val Mesolcina (GR) to prevent Japanese beetles from multiplying. Similarly, Currently, five cantons are affected by infestation homes.

Japanese beetles are now also found in Graubünden. Furthermore, The first copies were captured in Val Mesolcina, bordering in Ticino, where a pest population has developed since 2020 already.

“We had devastating beetle proliferated switzerland: “close already arranged 14 traps to monitor the area. Therefore, the Val Mesolcina being bordering on an infested region”indicates on Tuesday Andreas Vetsch, head of the plant protection service at the Landquart Agronomic Training Center (GR). The most important capture in a single trap had four Japanese beetles.

Close them Cars doors. windows – Devastating beetle proliferated switzerland: "close

To prevent harmful beetles from laying eggs, 72 traps were arranged in Val Mesolcina, most of them in the south of the valley. Andreas Vetsch recommends that vacationers close the windows. the doors of their vehicle permanently to prevent them from getting Japanese scarab by accident during their flight period, between June and September.

Currently, Five cantons are affected by infestation homes: Valais, Zurich, the two Bâles and Schwyz. In Ticino. in a Valais region, it is devastating beetle proliferated switzerland: “close no longer realistic to exterminate the Japanese beetle, but the infested areas concerned have been circumscribed.

Voracious insect

The Japanese scarab (Popillia Japanica) is a voracious insect that can cause considerable damage. Adult individuals eat leaves, fruits and flowers over 400 plants.

At the larval stage, this insect feeds mainly on grass roots, jeopardizing the green surfaces of all types. It therefore represents a threat to agricultureproducing horticulture and the environment. In early July, the Federal Agriculture Office published an emergency plan to intensify the efforts to combat this quarantine organization. (AG/ATS)