Swiss perspectives in 10 languages

Borders won’t stop us

Box tree pyralids or the Western corn rootworm might not mean much to most of us, but they are some of the many animal and plant species that have arrived in Switzerland over the past few years.

The authorities have invested in important means to help turn back the tide and reduce damage to the ecosystem. The sap of the giant hogweed can cause burns and blisters on a person’s skin, while the Asian long-horned beetle can kill off a tree in just a few years. Here are some mugshots of the worst pests threatening humans, nature and farming.

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR