Swiss cantons ban lawn watering as Japanese beetles sighted

Measures in both Basel after new Japanese beetle findings Keystone-SDA

Following the first Japanese beetle findings this year, the Swiss cantons of Basel-City and Basel-Land are stepping up their measures.

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A ban on watering lawns and green areas and a ban on transporting green waste and soil will apply in the infested areas have been imposed until the end of September.

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A corresponding general decree comes into force in both cantons, as detailed in a joint communiqué issued on Thursday. In the last three days, Japanese beetles have appeared in the Brüglinger Ebene in Münchenstein, as they did last year.

Other sites where beetles have been found include the Rosenfeldpark in Basel and the Wenkenpark in Riehen.

The current ban on watering lawns in the defined infestation area is intended to make the green areas as unattractive as possible for the beetles to lay their eggs. However, it is still permitted to water flowers and vegetables in the garden.

The centre of infestation covers areas in Basel and Muttenz as well as Riehen, Münchenstein and Birsfelden

Exception for sports areas

Sports turf areas are exempt from the ban. Operators can request an application from the cantonal plant protection service. This means that nematodes can be used on such lawns to control the Japanese beetle.

The ban on green waste from the infested area and the buffer zone applies during the beetle’s flight period. Compost, plants with roots in soil and compost may also not be transported out of the infested area.

The regular green waste collection of the municipalities is not affected. Suspected cases of Japanese beetle should be reported to the authorities.

Translated from German by DeepL/mga

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