Proagopertha lucidula, an invasive pest spreading westward in the EPPO region
The apple fairy chafer Proagopertha lucidula (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) is first recorded from Kazakhstan. It was observed in 2025 in the south-eastern part of the country (Almaty and Zhetysu oblasts), located over 100 km from the border with China (Xinjiang province). P. lucidula is an important pest of fruit and ornamental crops in China and the Russian Far East.
So far, it was known to occur in Russian Far East, North and South Korea, China (Anhui, Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Jiangsu, Jilin, Liaoning, Neimenggu, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Xinjiang).
P. lucidula has a life cycle similar to that of Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae - EPPO A2 List): the larvae feed on plant roots while adults feed on the flowers, buds, leaves or fruit of host plants. It is very polyphagous, with damage recorded on many Rosaceous plants such as apple (Malus spp.) and pear (Pyrus spp.) trees but also other species such as grapevine (Vitis vinifera), elm (Ulmus spp.) and poplar (Populus spp.).
Temreshev (2025) considers that these findings may be due to an extension of the geographical range supported by climate change or by an accidental introduction via plant material or soil from China. He considers that introductions to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are also likely and notes that the emergence of the beetle is earlier (April to May) in Kazakhstan than in the rest of its range in Asia (May to mid-June or June to August).
Previous research showed that P. lucidula may be caught in traps used to detect Popillia japonica.
Sources
Temreshev II (2025) A new invasive species Proagopertha lucidula (Faldermann, 1835)(Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae) for Kazakhstan. Acta Biologica Sibirica 11, 715-725.
Chen RZ, Klein MG, Li Y, Li QY, Sheng CF (2014) Japanese beetle lures used alone or combined with structurally related chemicals to trap NE China scarabs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology 17(4), 871-877.