2023-07-05 06:00:40
Federal Office for Agriculture
Bern, 05.07.2023 – Since 2017, the Japanese beetle has been spreading steadily further in the canton of Ticino. This pest can cause serious damage, especially to agriculture, and destroy entire crops. At the time of the great departures on vacation, the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) calls on travelers to be vigilant. The Japanese beetle could well be a stowaway on board cars and trains and thus cover great distances before attacking other regions of the country.
The Japanese beetle arrived in Switzerland in 2017, entering our country through the canton of Ticino. This very voracious beetle feeds on more than 300 plant species and poses a serious danger to agriculture, horticulture production and the environment. In 2022, the traps installed in Ticino made it possible to capture no less than 625,606 individuals. The adult insect flies from June to early September. There is therefore every reason to fear that the Japanese beetle will spread to other regions of Switzerland by traveling with holidaymakers returning by train or car from infested regions of Ticino or northern Italy.
Since the Japanese beetle is the size of a nickel, it can easily become a stowaway and travel to other areas where it will spread dangerously. It is therefore crucial to screen your luggage and your vehicle. If you discover a suspicious beetle, capture it immediately to report it to the phytosanitary service of your canton. The Japanese beetle can be confused with some native beetle species, such as the June beetle or the garden beetle; it is therefore important to know what differentiates it.
Distinctive signs :
The adult measures 10 to 12 mm in length; the body is green with metallic reflections, partly covered by the copper-colored elytra. The abdomen has five characteristic tufts of white hair on each side, and two other more elongated tufts at its posterior end. larvae and pupae live in the soil and are therefore more difficult to see.
What to do if you discover a suspicious beetle?
Capture the animal and do not release it. Check the presence of tufts of hair on both sides of the abdomen. If possible, photograph it and note the exact location and the name of the plant where you discovered it. Freeze the insect. Please contact your canton’s phytosanitary service as soon as possible (telephone numbers: see leaflet).
Address for sending questions
media@blw.admin.ch
Florie Marion, OFAG, Communication and Linguistic Services sector, tel. +41 58 461 14 41
Jonathan Fisch, FOAG, Communication and Linguistic Services sector, tel. + 41 58 483 92 78
Auteur
Federal Office for Agriculture
1688539265
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