Overview

• Eleven Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) have been trapped in Freiburg since early July, compared with only one or two annual finds in Baden-Württemberg since 2021.
• The invasive species feeds on over 400 plant types and has no natural predators in Germany, posing high risks to vineyards, orchards and public green spaces.
• The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Agriculture has broadened infestation and buffer zones around Lörrach to stem the northward march of the beetle.
• Public reporting channels and photo documentation efforts have been intensified to support rapid detection and monitoring by the LTZ and local authorities.
• New biosecurity rules enforce vehicle inspections plus soil movement restrictions with green waste protocols to prevent larval establishment in turf and cropland.