Update on the situation of Popillia japonica in Germany
In Germany specimens of Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae – EPPO A2 List) have been occasionally caught in traps but the species was not considered established (EPPO RS 2021/007, RS 2022/010, RS 2022/165). Official surveys and awareness raising campaigns are conducted. The NPPO of Germany recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of several findings and the establishment of demarcated areas on its territory.
·Baden-Württemberg
A demarcated area was first established in March 2025 in Baden-Württemberg, in the district of Lörrach (region of Freiburg) as the infested and buffer zones of the outbreak in Basel (Switzerland) extend partly to Germany. Official measures, including the prohibition of disposing of untreated green waste and soil outside the demarcated area, are applied. In July 2025, 2 individual beetles were caught in 2 different traps in the buffer zone: one close to a freight station and lorry parking area, and one close to the car park of a big hotel. It is considered that both beetles were hitchhikers. 20 more traps were installed close to the findings but as of August 2025 no other beetles have been caught there. For this reason, no further infested area has been demarcated in the district of Lörrach.
Another demarcated area was established in July 2025 in the area of Freiburg where isolated beetles had been caught since 2021 (RS 2022/165). In June 2025 1 male beetle was caught in a trap, and in July 2 male beetles were caught in the same trap and one female beetle was found in a private garden. Eradication measures are initiated.
In August 2025 one male beetle was caught in a trap close to the railway line in an area where no beetles had previously been trapped. There is currently no indication of an established population in that area.
·Bavaria
One male beetle was caught for the first time in this region in a trap located near Lindau, less than 1000 m away from the border to Austria in August 2024. The trap was located close to a motorway that leads to the south including known demarcated areas in Switzerland and Italy. Further traps were installed, and another male beetle was caught two weeks later in a trap located about 4.5 km north-west of the first one. In July 2025 two and then four more male beetles were caught in the same pheromone trap near Lindau as the first beetle in 2024. No indication of an established population could be found so far.
·Brandenburg
One male beetle was first caught in a trap in July 2025. The trap was set up in a nursery where two traps were already placed in 2024. The beetle was most probably a hitchhiker. There is no indication of an established population. Intensive surveys are carried out.
·Hessen
One male beetle was found in July 2025 in a private garden in Trebur (Hesse) by an individual who reported the suspected finding to the regional plant protection service which carried out the identification. A delimiting survey is being conducted in an area of 2 km radius. As of the end of August 2025, 4 more beetles have been caught in 3 different traps, and a demarcated area is being established.
The pest status of Popillia japonica in Germany is officially declared as: Present, at low prevalence, only in some parts of the Member State concerned.
Sources
NPPO of Germany (2025-03, 2025-07, 2025-08).
EU (2023) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1584 of 1.8.2023 on measures to prevent the establishment and spread of Popillia japonica Newman and on measures for the eradication and containment of that pest within certain demarcated areas of the Union territory. OJL 194, p. 17–38. http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/1584/oj