Incursion of Popillia japonica in Austria
The NPPO of Austria recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first finding of Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae – EPPO A2 List) on its territory. In July 2025, a single adult male beetle was found by a private individual in their garden in Hörbranz municipality, Vorarlberg state, close to the border with Germany. No signs of damage were found on host plants in the garden or in the surrounding areas. The individual notified the local authorities of the finding. The identity of the pest was confirmed by the National Reference Laboratory by morphological and molecular testing. Official phytosanitary measures have been applied including awareness raising, intensified surveys and traps set within a 1-km radius of the finding, which extends into Germany. As the trap setting radius extends into Germany, the NPPO of Austria and Germany are closely coordinating. No further beetle findings have been reported since the initial finding. The NPPO of Austria considers that this beetle was a hitchhiker as the finding was reported near a highway stop and customs office.
The pest status remains under determination.
Sources
NPPO of Austria (2025-08).
The updated emergency plan for Popillia japonica in Austria is available here: https://www.pflanzenschutzdienst.at/