The Japanese beetle is an inconspicuous but very voracious insect from the Far East that can cause great damage in agriculture, but also in parks and sports facilities. After it was already found in Switzerland and Baden-Württemberg this summer, it has now appeared for the first time in Bavaria – on the A 96 near Lindau. The specimen flew into a trap set up by the State Office for Agriculture (LfL). The find has now been officially confirmed by an official laboratory. The LfL is appealing to farmers, hikers and all other people who spend a lot of time outdoors to report finds or even suspected cases. The experts there have set up a special email address for this purpose ([email protected])
The Japanese beetle, or Popillia japonica as its scientific name is, feeds on more than 400 host plants. Among them are many that play a major role in agriculture, such as grapevines and corn, but also soy and berries. But it also attacks linden trees, birches and other landscape trees as well as roses, wisteria and similar ornamental plants. In northern Italy, the Japanese beetle, which is copper-brown and metallic green in color and can appear in large swarms, has reportedly already destroyed entire sports fields. The insect was probably introduced to Switzerland by plane.
Experts were certain weeks ago that it was only a matter of time before the Japanese beetle was found in Bavaria. The LfL set up traps with attractants in several regions of the Free State, especially in the border areas with Switzerland and Baden-Württemberg. The first specimen in the Free State was found in one on the A 96 near Lindau. Checks around the site have so far revealed no damage or other indications of the species being found there. The Japanese beetle has no natural enemies in Europe.
The A 96 extends south into the Swiss Ticino and the Italian Lombardy, which report large numbers of Japanese beetles. According to the LfL, the trap was deliberately set up on the A 96 to catch any beetles that might have travelled from these areas just across the border. The LfL assumes that it is a single specimen from one of these regions that was brought in via traffic on the motorway. The insect spreads on its own within a maximum radius of five kilometres per year. However, purely as a precaution, the LfL has now set up further traps with attractants around the site.