Alarm in Baden-Württemberg: Japanese beers threaten agriculture

Alarm in Baden-Württemberg: Japanese beers threaten agriculture

Baden-Württemberg faces a new challenge in agriculture: the Japanese beer, an invasive insect, was first spotted in the region in 2024. This discovery could have significant consequences for local flora and business.

alarm level red for agriculture

The Japanese beetle (Popillia Japonica) is known for its destructive behavior because it affects over 300 plant species, including many cultures that are important for agriculture. The discovery of male Japankers in the trap of the crop protection service in Freiburg and in the district of Ludwigsburg alerted experts. This species is classified as a pest in the European Union and can cause enormous damage to meadows and lawns.

origin and introduction

The origin of the Japanese beetle is in Asia, and it is believed that the copies discovered were introduced to Baden-Württemberg. Experts from the Agricultural Technology Center Augustenberg (LTZ) in Karlsruhe explain that the beetles may have reached the region via trucks. The discovery of a colony in Switzerland a few weeks ago aroused additional concerns about the spread of this kind. In response to this, an infestation zone was set up in the Lörrach district.

monitoring measures in the region

In order to control the potential spread of the Japanese agent, the plant protection service 82 has established falls across the state. These are mainly placed along main traffic routes and locations that are considered risky. The aim is to prevent a settlement and associated damage to agriculture. The LTZ's experts emphasize that there are no natural enemies in the region for the Japanese worker, which further increases the risk of spreading.

citizens as allies in crop protection

In order to strengthen control over the situation, the citizens are asked to report found Japanese beers. Suspicious copies should be frozen, photographed and sent to the responsible crop protection service by email. This enables faster reaction and targeted measures.

The role of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI) have also made their concern about the potential dangers from the Japanese worker. A possible distribution should be prevented from suitable measures that block the import of vehicles and the control of plant parts. The explanation of experts and offices emphasizes that despite the small extent of the Japanese worker, its effects on agriculture can be significant.

The situation is an urgent indication of how invasive species can consider the agricultural production chain considerably and how important a quick and coordinated reaction of authorities and citizens is to protect domestic vegetation.