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St. Gallen caterpillar invasion destroys 50 hectares of meadows
A massive invasion of Euclidia glyphica caterpillars has caused significant agricultural damage in the Sargans region of the Swiss canton of St. Gallen. According to Bruno Inauen, head of the St. Gallen Office for Agriculture, millions of caterpillars have stripped approximately 50 hectares of meadows bare, representing ten percent of the region's total meadow area.
The infestation is attributed to warm weather, which has allowed these heat-loving moths to migrate from Southern Europe. While the species is already present in the canton of Ticino, officials warn that a northward expansion is possible. The caterpillars currently lack sufficient natural predators in the region to control their population.
Local residents and farmers have reported extreme conditions, describing the situation as being ‘like a horror film.’ Beyond agricultural losses, the insects have affected households, clinging to walls and making outdoor spaces unusable. St. Gallen authorities are now investigating potential mitigation strategies, including the use of parasitic fungi, to protect meadows in the coming year.
Entities
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The caterpillars lack sufficient natural predators in these latitudes. www.wp.de · www.morgenpost.de · www.suedkurier.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The infestation has consumed ten percent of the total meadow area in the Sargans region. www.wp.de · www.morgenpost.de · www.suedkurier.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The caterpillars are migrating from Southern Europe and are also present in the southern canton of Ticino. www.wp.de · www.morgenpost.de · www.suedkurier.de
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Authorities are considering biological controls, such as parasitic fungi, similar to methods used for June beetles. www.suedkurier.de
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Officials are considering biological controls, such as parasitic fungi, similar to methods used for June beetles. www.suedkurier.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The caterpillars are migrating from Southern Europe and are already present in the canton of Ticino. www.wp.de · www.morgenpost.de · www.suedkurier.de