Press Release

July 14, 2006
  • Nature & Parks

Three New Species to be Designated as Invasive Alien Species by Cabinet Ordinance

European-native large earth bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) have been used as pollinators for tomatoes and other vegetables in Japan since their introduction in the 1990's, and are found to be established in the wild. In order to prevent their negative impacts on Japanese flora and bumblebee species, Bombus terrestris will be designated as an Invasive Alien Species (IAS) based on the Invasive Alien Species Act as of September 1, 2006. Also designated as IAS on this occasion are two genera of long-armed scarabs (Euchirus and Propomacrus) that were formerly designated as "Uncategorized Alien Species (UAS)."


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