Japanese beetle warning issued in Switzerland

The Swiss authorities have called on people to be vigilant against Japanese beetles. Anyone who finds a suspicious beetle should catch it immediately and report it to the relevant cantonal plant protection service. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox It is also important to carefully check luggage and vehicles for the Japanese beetle when travelling, the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) announced on Thursday. The beetles could be transported as "stowaways" over long distances in cars and trains and become dangerous in other regions of Switzerland. The Japanese beetle is voracious and can cause considerable damage in agriculture. It can be recognised by the white tufts of hair on both sides of the abdomen. Anyone who finds a Japanese beetle should freeze it, photograph it and report it. + How Switzerland is battling invasive species According to the FOAG, there are already zones in parts of the cantons of Valais and Ticino where there is no longer any ...