Japan Beetle Invades Italian Vineyards | San Francisco News

Italy’s facing a dazzling but devastating new pest: the Japanese beetle. These iridescent invaders, first spotted near Milan in 2014, are now spreading rapidly across key wine and fruit regions, stripping leaves from vines and orchards—and even devouring grass roots. With no natural predators in Europe, they’ve been slapped with EU priority pest status. Farmers report total crop losses, and winemakers on steep slopes are seeing grapes that won’t ripen properly. Scientists are racing to combat them—using pheromone traps, pesticides, and even experimental parasites targeting their grubs. Experts warn: if left unchecked, this beetle could cripple agriculture across the continent. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/531aa73bdd28ce28