- Basel employs threadworms as a strategy to combat Japanese beetles
In the battle against the Japanese beetle, the Swiss urban center of Basel has adopted an unusual technique: Starting from next Monday, worms known as threadworms will be introduced onto lawns and public parks. As per the cantons of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft, these threadworms, often referred to as nematodes, invade Japanese beetle larvae and ultimately exterminate them.
These threadworms are reportedly imperceptible to the naked eye. The strains of nematodes are reportedly effective not only against Japanese beetle larvae but also against larvae of pests like the Colorado potato beetle and the rose chafer. "For other animals and humans, the threadworms pose no threat," the cantons stated. The method utilizing worms necessitates an abundance of water since the treated areas must remain damp.
Basel is situated near the German border. During the summer, a swarm of Japanese beetles was detected. Following the findings in Basel, the district of Lörrach in Germany extended its protective measures. There exists a designated 'infestation' zone; for instance, plant material should remain on-site for the moment.
The Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica), which hails from Asia, is labeled as a 'pest' in the EU. The insect primarily endangers viticulture, horticulture, and agriculture. Roses, blackberries, grapes: The creatures swarm orchards, vineyards, forests, green spaces, and gardens, leaving more than 300 plant species devoid of foliage.
Specialists: Beetle likely introduced via freight traffic
At the end of July, four male specimens of the hazardous beetle species were captured in Freiburg im Breisgau. Specialists are concerned that the beetle may have been introduced via freight traffic. At least one Japanese beetle was also discovered in the district of Ludwigsburg, as per the Agricultural Technology Centre Augustenberg (LTZ) in Karlsruhe.
The concern over this invasive species has become substantial in Germany, even prompting warnings from both the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Julius Kühn Institute, the federal research institute for crop plants.
The Japanese beetle measures less than an inch in length, sports a metallic, shimmering green head and brown wings. Noteworthy are five white tufts of hair on either side of the abdomen and two white tufts at the end of the abdomen. According to the LTZ, the females favor laying their eggs in moist or watered grasslands. From the eggs, larvae hatch that devour grass roots and damage meadows and lawns.
The unusual technique in Basel aims to protect the environment from the Japanese beetle, which can cause significant damage to various plant species. Following the implementation of this method, neighboring districts like Lörrach have also taken protective measures against the invasive pest.
