Japanese Beetle Infests Northern Italy Vineyards, Threatening Wine Production

The invasive Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) is spreading across northern Italy, swarming vineyards and orchards in Lombardy, Piedmont and the Valle d'Aosta region. The beetles feed on leaves, leaving a lattice‑like damage that weakens vines and reduces yields, prompting concerns among winemakers and the agricultural lobby Coldiretti.

The pest, native to Japan and already established in the United States, was first detected near Milan in 2014 and has since moved up the Po River Valley, Italy’s agricultural heartland. With no natural predators and an ability to travel on transport vehicles, the beetle is now listed by the European Union as a priority pest. Farmers are employing traps, targeted pesticide applications and coordinated canopy management, but gaps in treatment allow rapid re‑infestation.

Entomologists warn that the beetle’s broad host range—including fruit trees and ornamental plants—could extend the threat beyond Italy to neighboring Switzerland and Germany, while populations in France and Spain remain lower. The ongoing invasion adds pressure to growers already coping with climate volatility, labor shortages and rising input costs.