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Japanese beetle spread in Europe

Updated 3 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-06 13:52 UTC → 2026-08-14 04:36 UTC · added removed

In late June/early July 2026, two Japanese beetles were captured in Alsace (Mulhouse, Saint‑Hippolyte), confirming the pest’s first presence in France. The French DRAAF and Ministry of Agriculture responded with nationwide trapping and expanded surveillance to Bourgogne‑Franche‑Comté and Provence‑Alpes‑Côte d’Azur. On 23 July, Germany reported its first specimens in Lower Saxony, caught at Hannover Airport. Authorities suspect accidental transport via aircraft or trucks and have intensified monitoring around the airport. At the end of July, French officials announced five additional beetles in Mougins, raising the Alpes‑Maritimes total to seven. The prefecture of Provence‑Alpes‑Côte d’Azur and the ANSES reference laboratory verified the finds, prompting the regional directorate to install more traps and conduct intensive surveys. The spread continued into central Europe: on 6 August, nine live beetles were captured in traps set in the Swiss canton of St. Gallen and the neighbouring Principality of Liechtenstein. Swiss and Liechtenstein experts are coordinating with federal authorities to assess the infestation and consider control actions. These detections follow earlier records On 13 August, the Hungarian National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih) initiated emergency phytosanitary measures following reports of the pest near the Hungarian border. This follows a sighting of a female specimen in Grand Est (2025), Cannes (June 2026) and established populations Pince, Slovenia, in northern Italy (since 2014) and Switzerland (since 2017), underscoring the rapid north‑westward July, and south‑westward advance a July detection of Popillia japonica across Europe and two male beetles near Graz, Austria. To prevent spread, Nébih deployed pheromone traps in Zala County along major transit routes. Authorities warn that the escalating response beetle, which can cause total defoliation, is often transported long distances by national plant‑protection services. humans via vehicles or luggage.

Versions

  1. 2026-08-14 04:36 UTC Japanese beetle spread in Europe
  2. 2026-08-06 13:52 UTC Japanese beetle spread in Europe
  3. 2026-07-28 19:30 UTC Japanese beetle spread in Europe
  4. 2026-07-28 19:30 UTC Japanese beetle spread in Europe expands south

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