Germany: Eleven Japanese beetles discovered in Freiburg im Breisgau since early July

Since the beginning of July, eleven specimens of the voracious Japanese beetle have been discovered in Freiburg im Breisgau, in southern Baden-Württemberg, according to our colleagues at DPA. "This is of course worrying," says Frauke Rinke of the Augustenberg Agricultural Technology Center (LTZ) in Karlsruhe. Since 2021, one or two specimens have been found each year throughout Baden-Württemberg. "This year, in Freiburg im Breisgau, we are regularly finding them in our traps."

Native to Asia, the Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) can cause particularly significant damage. These insects attack orchards, vineyards, forests, green spaces, and gardens, devouring more than 400 plant species. It has no known natural predator. In Germany, as in France, and especially in Alsace , fears of the spread of this invasive species are growing daily. "We capture the beetles directly near the tracks." According to the LTZ, the animals found in recent years were likely traveling in trucks from northern Italy.

In Weil am Rhein, near the Alsatian and Swiss borders, a male beetle was also captured near the freight yard. The plant protection service of the Fribourg prefecture had 20 traps set up within a 1.5 km radius of the captures. The traps are checked daily, explains Frauke Rinke. The task now is to find the area where the beetles are coming from. "If we knew there were larvae in a given area, we would quickly mow it down—if it was a green space—or cover it." Mowing would kill the larvae. If an area were covered with plastic film, the beetles would not be able to fly away, even if they emerged from the larvae.

Some 105 traps have been installed across the country since May. The traps will remain in place until October, with the hope of getting rid of the Japanese popillia.