Takahashia japonica (Cockenll) is a ladybug of Asian origin with white cotton filaments that take a circular shape on plants and trees.
It was originally found only on mulberry trees in Japan but also in China, South Korea and India. Then, as happened for other species of parasites (and not only), this managed to reach Europe and its presence for the first time was reported in our country.
The first cases of infestation from Takahashia japonica They were reported in 2017 in a municipal park in Cerro Maggiore (Province of Milan). The parasite had spread on the branches of Liquidambar Styraciflua And since then his presence has also been found in other parks and gardens of the provinces of Milan, Varese and Monza Brianza.
Currently this parasite is infesting the trees of Milan and the hinterland, the latest reports of 2025 show a significant worsening of the situation and the Regional phytosanitary service It has known some important details regarding the characteristics of this parasite, to the damage it produces and how to contain it.
Its development takes place in this way:
In the spring, towards the end of April early May, adult females produce the characteristic ovbacconists. At the end of May, the neanids come out of eggs and migrate to the leaves positioning themselves on the lower page where, with the pungent-sucking apparatus, they feed the sap by remaining there until the month of October era in which they return to the branches to winter continuing to feed on the sap.
With regard to the types of plants and trees that affects it we read that:
This recently introduced cochineal in our country is highly polyphaga and is mostly found on ornamental trees. In Lombardy, the plants affected are mainly ornamental deciduous trees including Acers (in particular Acer Pseudoplatanus), Albizzia (Julibrissin Albizia), Judas Tree (Cercis Siliquastrum), White Carpinus (Carpinus Betulus), black mulberry (Morus Nigra) and Bianco (Morus Alba), Baggolaro (Celis Australis) and Liquidambar (Liquidambar Styraciflua).
What damage causes to plants?
In the event of a strong infestation, the ladybug can cause the drying of leaves and young branches but the greatest damage are caused by the early age neanids that are positioned on the young sprouts of the leaves and on the flower buds causing their drying and falling and consequently also the lack of production of the fruits.
How to defend yourself from Takahashia Japonica’s infestation
In a note for the management of Takahashia Japonica scores, the phytosanitary service of the Lombardy Region writes that:
The experience of these years has taught that the infestations generally start from the basal branches more repaired by the direct sun. Therefore, It is necessary to intervene primarily on the initial infestations which are normally contained, removing the infested branches by pruning.
It is therefore absolutely necessary to monitor the trees more susceptible to the attack of this parasite, such as liquidambar, maple, hornbeam, mulberry.
In addition, some precious people can help Parasite predatory insects:
It should be noted that some predatory insects (Coccinellidae, in particular) have already been reported in biological competition against this parasite: for this reason, in particularly suitable urban areas (e.g. parks) it may be useful to proceed with the flooding release of species bred in biofabbeds for biological control.
Unfortunately, in the case of very heavy infestations and therefore have not been taken in time, it can sometimes be necessary to use professional insecticides:
In this case, it is necessary to use authorized phytosanitary products against the labor in compliance with the label prescriptions with particular attention to the time of return to the areas treated. These interventions must be carefully directed by an expert technician, or a consultant enabled pursuant to the Pan, as Takahashia Japonica, with his production of wells, can also be highly attractive for pronters and, in particular, for Apis Mellifera. The distribution of insecticides must therefore be subject to careful evaluation to avoid dangerous contaminations of the bees themselves.
Private citizens, but only in cases of more serious infestations can also resort to the use of non -professional phytosanitary products for ornamental plants (Pfnpo). These are products suitable for counteracting the labor and for which qualification to purchase is not necessary.
