Crowds of locusts are encroaching - Implemented limitations for the public - Japanese Beetle Dispersal - Citizen Restrictions Imposed
Headline: Japanese Beetle Infestation Prompts Strict Regulations in Freiburg, Germany
Freiburg, a major city in Germany, is currently under restrictions due to a Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) infestation. This pest, considered a high-priority quarantine pest in the European Union, has been causing concern in the region.
The Japanese beetle, native to Asia, can cause significant damage to over 400 plant species. It was first discovered in Switzerland in 2017, and since then, it has been found in Basel, Kloten near Zurich, and more recently, in Freiburg. Large parts of the city and surrounding municipalities have been designated as buffer zones.
To prevent the spread of the Japanese beetle, strict regulations have been implemented. From August 1st, no lawns may be watered in the infestation zone north of Freiburg's city center to prevent egg-laying by the beetle. The top soil layer (30 centimeters) may not be removed from protected areas to prevent the spread of larvae.
In the event of a sighting, citizens are urged to report it promptly to the local plant protection authority or via an official online reporting platform. This helps track and contain outbreaks early. It is also important not to move plants, soil, or cut plant material from infested or suspected areas unless authorized and compliant with containment rules.
Official guidelines and any local quarantine or buffer zone restrictions on plant material movement or disposal must be followed. Monitoring susceptible plants such as ornamental trees, fruit trees, and crops regularly during the beetle’s flight season, starting around June, is also crucial.
In Switzerland, insecticides have been used in the Swiss airport municipality of Kloten to combat Japanese beetles. In Freiburg, exceptions for soil removal may be granted by the responsible authorities, as long as no larvae are transported with the soil.
The regulations in Freiburg mark the first major German city to be affected by such restrictions. Protective zones have also been established in the district of Lörrach, Germany, due to Japanese beetle discoveries near the border with Switzerland.
Travelers returning from Italy or Switzerland are urged not to bring Japanese beetles as 'stowaways'. The insect is not dangerous to humans and animals, but its potential damage in Switzerland is estimated at several hundred million francs (euros) per year.
By enforcing surveillance, mandatory reporting, strict movement controls on plant material, and public awareness, authorities aim to contain the Japanese beetle and prevent its establishment and further spread in Germany and Freiburg.
- The community policy in Freiburg, Germany, now includes stringent regulations aimed at preventing the spread of the Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica), a high-priority quarantine pest, beyond its current infestation zone.
- In light of the Japanese beetle infestation, the city of Freiburg has implemented an employment policy that prohibits watering lawns within the infestation zone from August 1st, as egg-laying by the beetle is more likely in moist conditions.
- The environmental-science implications of the Japanese beetle infestation extend beyond Freiburg, as the beetle causes significant damage to over 400 plant species and could potentially threaten agricultural practices and local ecosystems in other regions if not contained.
