The agricultural world is on the alert: a new threat should soon hover over France.
The Japanese beetle, a danger for hundreds of plant species, could soon be introduced into France, warns the National Health Security Agency (Anses) on Monday.
The beetle or Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) was spotted in Italy in 2014 and in Switzerland in 2017 and “the probability that it enters France is high”, indicates ANSES.
As an adult, “this insect pest […] feeds preferentially on leaves while the larvae feed on roots”.
An arrival impossible to prevent
More than 400 types of plants are concerned, both "food plants: plum, apple, vine, corn, soy, beans, asparagus, etc.
;
forest species, such as Norway maple or poplar;
or ornamental plants, for example roses or certain species present in lawns and lawns”.
For ANSES, it is impossible to prevent the arrival of this beetle in France.
"It is an insect that moves easily, the temperature and precipitation conditions are favorable to it and as it can consume many species of plants present on French territory it will have no difficulty in finding sources of food" , explains Christine Tayeh, scientific coordinator at ANSES.
Several methods of control proposed
The Japanese beetle can fly or "hitchhike" while moving on any support.
It is therefore necessary "to intervene as soon as the insect is first detected", via "traps equipped with mixed lures (combination of sexual pheromones and floral attractants)" placed along the border with the countries where it is already present and near points of entry into the territory (ports, airports, roads), while also raising awareness among professionals in the sectors concerned.
The formula worked in Oregon or California.
In the event of detection, the Agency recommends "delimiting an infested area" with reinforced surveillance and the implementation of several means of controlling the beetle, including "mass trapping, the use of synthetic plant protection products and biological control", depending on the situation.
It is also possible to practice "irrigation during the egg-laying period or tilling the soil in the fall" to reduce the survival of the larvae and the damage to the plants.
Above all, "if such actions are not deployed as soon as possible after the detection of the Japanese beetle, preventing its spread once it has established itself on the territory is likely to be long and have a low chance of success," warns ANSES.
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