Pests Threadworms in the fight against Japanese beetles on meadows in Kloten
Employees of the Canton of Zurich and gardening companies applied a water solution containing threadworms to green spaces in the city of Kloten on Wednesday. This was in the fight against the dreaded Japanese beetle.
18.09.2024, 16:06
SDA
The measure was announced by the cantonal building department at the beginning of September after around 2,700 Japanese beetles were discovered in Kloten over the summer. As in the previous year, the infested area was concentrated around the Stighag sports facility.
A biological preparation was applied to public and private properties adjacent to the sports facility on Wednesday. Threadworms act as beneficial insects in the soil to track down Japanese beetle larvae, penetrate them and cause them to die.
Football pitches covered with foil
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.
A small population of the pest was discovered in Kloten in mid-July 2023. It was the first north of the Alps. As the infestation is still considered manageable, a possible eradication is still classified as promising.
This summer, as last year, beetle traps were set up in Kloten. In addition, the football pitches at the Stighag facility were covered with airtight plastic sheeting to prevent the larvae from finding food. In addition, a ban on the export of green material and a ban on watering were again in force in Kloten.
