Japanese beetle spread triggers restrictions in Liechtenstein and St. Gallen

Authorities in the Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland, and the Principality of Liechtenstein have launched containment measures to combat the spread of the invasive Japanese beetle. Following the discovery of 13 specimens in the Buchs and Werdenberg regions, the Swiss Federal Plant Protection Service has mandated action to prevent the pest from causing significant damage to agriculture, particularly vineyards, forests, and meadows.

Strict regulations have been implemented within a one-kilometer radius of identified infestation sites. To prevent the beetle from laying eggs in moist soil, residents and agricultural businesses are prohibited from irrigating lawns, meadows, and pastures until the end of September. Additionally, all green waste within the infestation zone must be disposed of exclusively at the VfA Buchs recycling plant, and the transport of plants with root balls or in pots out of the affected area is forbidden.

A buffer zone extending between one and six kilometers from the infestation sites has also been established, with specific disposal requirements for green waste to mitigate further spread.