Japanese beetle: New traps to prevent damage in Lombardy

In Lombardy there is alarm over the Popillia japonica , better known as the Japanese beetle , an insect that threatens public greenery and private gardens, as well as the countryside.

Leaves that become transparent in a few hours, trees stripped of their greenery and ornamental plants reduced to skeletons: Popillia japonica is voracious: adults have been reported on more than 300 plant species.

With the arrival of summer, the pest insect has reached its seasonal peak. It is particularly visible in Milan, where reports have multiplied since the end of May .

The Japanese beetle is an invasive alien species, first observed in Europe in 2014 in the Ticino Park, between Piedmont and Lombardy. It is now present in almost all of Lombardy's provinces, with the exception of Mantua.

Regional Councillor for Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, Alessandro Beduschi, assured that the Lombardy Phytosanitary Service is "constantly monitoring the situation and introducing targeted containment measures."

The Region has implemented a monitoring system across 20 sites and installed 1,200 "attract and kill" devices: these are tripods equipped with attractive bait and insecticide-treated nets , designed to attract and kill adult insects. Each device is coded and accompanied by informational signs. Authorities remind that these devices should not be tampered with or moved: all updated information is available on the official website of the Regional Plant Protection Service (fitosanitario.regione.lombardia.it).

The distribution of specimens varies from area to area, but the insect proliferates especially in green and humid areas, where it finds ideal conditions for multiplication. The peak of adult presence is recorded in the month of July , while from mid- August the population begins to decline, until it temporarily disappears during the winter.

Adult Japanese beetles have been found on agricultural products, packaging, ships, and airplanes. Larvae can also be transported through the ornamental plant trade.

Adult Popillia japonica beetles are a bright metallic green in color . Their bodies are oval in shape and vary in size, from 5 x 7 mm to 8 x 11 mm. The female is larger than the male. It has a few tufts of white hair on its sides.

Authorities emphasize that everyone's cooperation is needed in the fight against the Japanese beetle. Residents are encouraged to be vigilant and intervene in their green spaces. In the case of limited infestations, manual collection of insects is recommended, eliminating them by immersing them in soapy water. Insect nets are also useful, and should be shaken in the morning when the beetles are less active.

However, homemade traps are not recommended: they often attract more insects than they can capture, thus worsening the problem in your garden or countryside. The use of insecticides is recommended only in severe cases and always following the instructions provided by the relevant authorities.

In addition to the aesthetic and environmental damage, Popillia japonica represents a concrete threat to agriculture . Its attacks can compromise the health of many crops, from vines to horticultural crops. Beduschi concludes by saying that

So far, thanks to extensive monitoring and containment measures, the damage, including economic damage, has been limited. The evolution of the virus is being monitored daily, but to limit its spread and thus minimize its negative effects, everyone's attention and cooperation are needed.

View this post on Instagram