The federal authorities fears thousands and thousands in damages if the beetle establishes itself in Switzerland.
The Japanese beetle could cause important harm to agriculture.
The municipality of Kloten is actually a particular organic zone: final summer season, a inhabitants of the Japanese beetle was found there – the primary north of the Alps. This alerted the authorities and quite a few measures had been taken to eradicate the pest.
Now it’s clear: at the least a part of the inhabitants survived. In the beginning of the flight interval, a beetle was present in a surveillance lure on the Stighag sports activities facility, because the cantonal constructing division introduced on Friday. That is why it’s forbidden to water lawns and inexperienced areas in Kloten from now till the top of September. That is to stop feminine Japanese beetles from laying their eggs within the floor; they like moist soil.
Nevertheless, it’s not clear how a lot this ban will assist, as repeated rain is predicted within the coming days.
The Japanese beetle could cause important harm to agriculture. Its eating regimen consists of greater than 400 species of crops – and as soon as established, it might eat complete crops naked. The federal authorities, which is coordinating the measures in Kloten, fears that harm will run into the thousands and thousands if it spreads. The pest could be recognized by the 5 white tufts of hair on the left and proper. It’s just like the cockchafer present in Switzerland.
Within the spring, samples confirmed that the larvae of the pest had been rising within the soil on the Stighag soccer pitches. To forestall them from rising into beetles and flying out, all of the grassy areas within the facility had been coated with foil.
Staff cowl the garden of the Stighag sports activities complicated in Kloten with plastic sheets on Could 7.
As well as, a meadow close to the sports activities fields has been reworked into a pretty space: it’s watered and stored quick in order that the feminine beetles lay their eggs there as an alternative of swimming. Traction and elimination traps intention to supply data on what number of beetles are shifting.
Nevertheless, an evaluation will solely be doable in the course of the summer season, says the constructing division. The federal authorities will then resolve on further measures comparable to using pesticides primarily based on scientific evaluation.
Along with the irrigation ban, there are different restrictions in place in Kloten. As Japanese beetles can get into the inexperienced waste throughout gardening work, it can’t be transported away from Kloten till the top of September. This additionally applies to compost, crops with roots in soil and soil materials. The removing of inexperienced waste within the surrounding communities can be prohibited.