Voracious Moth on the Rise
Once again, a new pest is making life difficult for Swiss farmers. The migratory cotton bollworm has been spotted in Switzerland again in 2025. It feeds on beans, corn, and other crops – with devastating effects on harvests.
Sunday, July 6, 2025
As reported by the BauernZeitung, the cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) was spotted again in Switzerland in 2025. «We’ve registered the first moth catches in the relevant border regions,» said Cornelia Sauer from Agroscope. This light-brown nocturnal moth prefers warm temperatures and migrates to Switzerland each summer from the south, west, and east.
The pest is not new: back in 2023, it caused massive damage to vegetable crops. Tons of beans had to be destroyed because they were riddled with holes from the larvae. And this moth is tough: its larvae feed not only on leaves but also on pods, fruits, and cobs. The cotton bollworm feeds on over 200 different plant species, making it a serious threat to many crops. Warm weather and southerly winds favor its migration.
«In general, all summer-grown crops at affected locations in which the pest can complete its development cycle are at risk,» said Stève Breitenmoser from Agroscope to the BauernZeitung.
Combat with Insecticides Possible
Since 2024, the cotton bollworm has been monitored nationwide through pheromone traps and field checks. This has paid off: «Thanks to the monitoring, crops could be treated preventively with an insecticide after the first signs of larval damage,» Sauer explained. As a result, bean shipments, for example, could be saved from rejection due to infestation.
But the biggest challenge remains the lack of approved plant protection products. Very few effective agents against the cotton bollworm are authorized in Switzerland. That’s why new emergency approvals are needed each year. For 2025, the viral preparation Helicovex was approved for chickpeas and sweet corn, and Helicovex and Coragen for beans and peas.
Plant Protection Means Plant Health
The cotton bollworm is not the only pest threatening Swiss agriculture. David Brugger from the Swiss Farmers’ Union puts it bluntly: «We lack solutions against wireworms, spotted wing drosophila, and the cotton bollworm, which can destroy entire cherry orchards, bean fields, and sweet corn plots. Gaps in herbicide availability are also a concern. Problematic grasses and weeds are spreading more and more. Even the federal government now realizes that this can’t continue.»
The health of our cultivated plants cannot be taken for granted. Quite the opposite: in our interconnected world, pests and plant diseases are spreading faster than ever. Globalization and climate change are accelerating this trend. New pests such as the Japanese beetle, the brown marmorated stink bug (also called the Chinese stink bug), and the cotton bollworm threaten our harvests – and thus our food security.
Invasive pests on the rise
Invasive pests are a growing threat to Swiss agriculture and biodiversity. Due to global trade, climate change, and travel, more and more foreign species are entering Switzerland and causing severe damage to both cultivated and wild plants.
Examples include the rapidly spreading Japanese beetle, which threatens local crops, and the Asian hornet, a serious danger to honeybees. Other invasive pests like the chestnut gall wasp, the spotted wing drosophila, or the Asian longhorn beetle are causing increasing concern for farmers and conservationists.
Protecting plants against these threats remains one of the greatest challenges of our time. Effective plant protection products, practical control strategies, and consistent monitoring are essential to contain the spread of these pests.
Sources
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