Japanese beetle advances through northern Italy’s vineyards and orchards, frustrating farmers
The invasive pest has no natural predators in Europe and feeds on more than 300 plant species, officials said.
- Popillia swarmed through vineyards in Italy's Valle Aosta region on Thursday, July 9, 2026, threatening historic crops. The iridescent pests first appeared near Milan in 2014.
- With no natural predators and an appetite covering over 300 plants, the Popillia has made the European Union list of priority pests. The beetle travels en masse, hitching rides on trains and cars.
- "We're now about the 10th terrace and can already see the Popillia attacks," said Luciano Zoppo Ronzero, a winemaker producing Nebbiolo in Donnas. Defoliating vines exposes grape clusters to the sun, preventing ripening.
- Lorenzo Bazzana of The Coldiretti warned the beetle destroyed harvests in some areas, urging attacks on larvae. Experts near Verona's Valerio Catullo airport are experimenting with microscopic parasites to contain the infestation.
- Entomologist Daniela Lupi of the University warns the beetle is entrenched in Italy, Switzerland, and Germany, threatening the River Valley. Unless controlled, the population will continue to rise, causing significant damage.
27 Articles
27 Articles
Since its first appearance more than ten years ago, the invasive Japanese beetle has spread in Italy – but also in other European countries. The extremely ferocious pest, which is strongly reminiscent of the May beetle, is currently causing great concern to Italian wine-growers. Because in the Aosta Valley, the Japanese beetles eat the vines bald. This year, the population of the insect in Italy has risen explosively. This means even more hunger…
Italian Winemakers' New Scourge: Japanese Beetles
The iridescent green beetles native to Japan have become a growing menace in Italy, swarming through orchards and vineyards and leaving behind devastating lattice patterns in leaves that weaken the plants and reduce production. The Popillia japonica, or Japanese beetle, is a familiar pest in the United States, where it...
The Toronto Star
Japanese beetle advances through northern Italy’s vineyards and orchards, frustrating farmers
DONNAS, Italy (AP) — The iridescent green beetles native to Japan have become a growing menace in Italy, swarming through orchards and vineyards and leaving behind devastating lattice patterns in
Associated Press News
Japanese beetle advances through northern Italy's vineyards and orchards, frustrating farmers
Iridescent green beetles native to Japan have invaded Italy, damaging orchards and vineyards. Known as Popillia japonica, they were first detected in Europe in 2014 near Milan.
A new threat to farmers is spreading across Europe. The invasive Asian pest, the Japanese leafhopper, is eating away at plant leaves and destroying crops. It is currently causing problems in northern Italy, but first outbreaks are also being reported in France and Spain.
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