Fight against Japanese beetles No green spaces may be watered in Kloten ZH
Despite all containment measures, the first Japanese beetles have flown out in Kloten. The canton of Zurich has therefore issued a ban on watering green spaces in the municipality of Kloten until September.
21.06.2024, 09:51
21.06.2024, 11:29
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- The first Japanese beetles have flown out in Kloten. The insect causes major damage to plants, especially agricultural crops.
- The canton of Zurich is combating the spread of the invasive species with various measures. It has now issued a ban on watering green spaces. This applies in the city of Kloten until the end of September.
- No plant material may be transported out of the city of Kloten.
Despite previous measures: The first Japanese beetles have flown out of Kloten. The canton of Zurich is therefore tightening measures to combat the pest with immediate effect. There is now a ban on watering lawns and green spaces until the end of September.
The canton announced the measure back in May, should new Japanese beetles hatch. Plants in gardens and on balconies are exempt from the watering ban. They may continue to be watered as long as no grasses grow in the pots and beds.
Plant material may also no longer be transported outside the city of Kloten, as the canton of Zurich announced on Friday. The first specimen of the voracious pest was found in a monitoring trap.
Only population north of the Alps
The stricter measures are intended to prevent the Japanese beetle from spreading from Kloten to other regions. The population in Kloten is the only one north of the Alps in Europe to date.
The pests were discovered in July last year. The focus of the infestation is a football pitch, which was therefore covered with foil.
It is not yet known how the beetle population in Kloten has developed compared to last year. According to the press release, it will only be possible to assess this in the course of the summer. The federal government will then also decide whether further measures are necessary.
Huge damage potential
The Japanese beetle can cause major damage to its more than 400 host plants. Its diet includes agricultural crops such as maize, fruit trees, berries and vines. But it also eats trees, ornamental plants and lawns. The potential damage in Switzerland is estimated at several hundred million francs per year.
Experience from the USA and Italy shows that it is difficult to control the pest once it has established itself. The goal set by the federal government is therefore to eradicate the infestation in Kloten while it is still manageable.