Invasive Japanese beetles detected in eastern France

Residents are being asked to report beetles

An increased number of traps to catch the insects are being deployed in eastern France
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Property owners are being warned after an increased number of sightings of Japanese beetles in eastern France near the German border.

The first two sightings of the beetles in east France occurred in July, with the insects seen in Mulhouse and Saint-Hippolyte (Haut-Rhin), and has led local authorities to scramble to crack down on them. 

The insects, as their name suggests, are native to Japan but are a pest in Europe and eat over 300 kinds of crops and plants, including apple and plum trees, grapes, hops, asparagus, corn, and ornamental plants including rose bushes and birch trees. 

The insects have been present in other European countries for around 10 years, and outbreaks have been recorded in nearby Germany and Switzerland. 

Authorities in the east of France have been warning of the imminent threat of Japanese beetles to the area since 2022. 

An outbreak in the border town of Basel, Switzerland in 2024 left authorities in France on high alert when three Japanese beetles were seen in a football field.

The insects are one of 20 harmful invasive species the EU asks residents to destroy, to prevent widespread damage to crops and plant life in the bloc. 

Other insects on the list include the citrus longhorn and Asian longhorn beetles, as well as the sunflower maggot fly. 

‘Hitchiking’ insects can spread rapidly 

The insects are particularly dangerous not just because of the damage they can cause to plants and gardens, but for the speed at which they spread. 

The animals are known to ‘hitchhike’ from one area to the next, riding on transport such as trains, buses, and trucks before dropping off in a new area. 

The first Japanese beetles to arrive in France reportedly arrived from trucks crossing the Franco-German border. Traps to capture them have been set up around major stations in the Grand-Est region, including Besançon. 

The number of traps – and checks to ensure any caught beetles are removed – in public places have increased since the first sighting at the start of the month.

How to spot and report insects 

Residents in the area have been asked to keep watch for any presence of the species in an effort to reduce their spread.

The insects are recognisable due to their green and bronze-coloured heads, and white bristles along the sides of their abdomens. 

They look similar to the garden chafer (hanneton des jardins), however are larger and have the white bristles which the chafer does not possess.

They can be found in gardens, and often lay larvae in partially-grown lawns and freshly-watered soils. 

Any sightings can be reported to your regional Direction générale de l'alimentation, de l'agriculture et des forêts (DRAAF).