A little riddle to start. What is tiny, 8 to 15 millimeters, moves almost everywhere in the world and is very scary? Answer: the “popilia japonica”, or Japanese beetle, the country from which it originates. A male specimen of the insect was detected in a freight station in Basel (Switzerland), in mid-July, and since the French authorities are concerned.
Why ? “Because it devours everything and multiplies very quickly”, summarizes Nathalie Gourbeau, of the Regional Food Service (SRAL). Its services, with the prefecture of Grand-Est, just published at the end of October a call for vigilance about the famous beetle. “Everyone is invited to be vigilant next spring vis-à-vis this beetle and to report any suspicion to SRAL (if possible with photos)”, it is written there in particular.
For the moment, no report has been made. And it is no longer for this fall or winter, the “popilia japonica” only flying in summer. “But it lays eggs, especially in gardens and meadows, and its larvae emerge in the spring,” continues the specialist, who has never captured any. A vast trapping device had however been set up around Basel but also the axis between the Swiss city and Strasbourg.
Because the insect is qualified as a “hitchhiker”. He travels vast distances by transport and had just arrived in Europe just like that. “In Italy, it has already done a lot of damage which has an impact on yields and therefore has economic consequences”, specifies Nathalie Gourbeau, referring to agricultural, arboricultural and viticultural crops. The individual, who has no impact on human health, attacks any leaf and turns it into lace.
“His arrival on the territory is probable”
Worse, there are currently no known predators in Europe… “But the Italians are testing mass traps by mechanical suction and we also have studies underway on parasitic fungi. We are working on solutions to properly contain this pest, ”says the representative of the Regional Directorate for Food, Agriculture and Forestry. Convinced that the Japanese beetle shouldn’t stop at the border forever. “One day or another, because of the exchanges, his arrival on the territory is probable. “
Alsatian winegrowers are aware of this. “We don’t have much information on this subject but we know that the beast is getting closer. We are on standby ”, we explain to the association that brings them together (AVA). “There is something to be worried about. “