First report of an invasive Japanese beetle Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea) in Slovenia

The Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea), listed by the European Commission as one of the 20 priority plant pests, is reported for the first time in Slovenia.In the summer of 2024, eight beetles were found in funnel traps at two motorway service stations in central Slovenia: Lukovica South and Barje South.Visual inspections in the surrounding area revealed no infestation or damage to susceptible host plants.In addition to morphological identification, we confirmed the presence of P. japonica through molecular barcoding using the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene.Based on its distribution in neighbouring northern Italy, the nearby outbreak and the isolated findings near the Slovenian border as well as the heavy freight traffic between northern Italy and Slovenia, a passive transport of P. japonica as a hitchhiker is very likely.