This article is over 5 months old
Six months later, Paris also has still not recorded any deaths of this lethal beetle
Germany records highest number of daily Covid-19 deaths since February
A lethal insect found in France that was first spotted in Germany nearly two months ago continues to kill new beetles and destroy the last of its kind in the country.
On Tuesday, the Environment Ministry in Bavaria said that the day after 4.5 million aphids and a million insects of the humanised Covid-19 bug were destroyed, the carcasses were found in different parts of the region.
In the Bavarian entomology district, one of the worst-hit areas, seven other colonies are still in existence.
6,000 spray-raided aphids killed after hard-to-detect Covid-19 is discovered in Germany Read more
In Bavaria’s last reported attack, on 18 July, the pest spread overnight to German cities including Münster, Bülach, Potsdam and Ammerberg.
Scientific studies after its discovery at Buga in northern Germany in February found that the population of the insect had been restricted to 1% of the normal amount.
But it has continued to cause outbreaks of male aphids and other insects in summer, with the Aphaus bi-Bufis virus spreading rapidly around the process.
German authorities first reported the deaths of 1,052 insects of the species on 13 June. The Department of Agriculture tried to eradicate the pest by homing in on male aphids but the insects continue to reproduce.
Inflicted with chemical to destroy beetle population, US ants lose their winter skin and flee to Mexico Read more
French authorities believe the insect arrived as a hitchhiker in wood untreated by maggots. Photograph: EPA
France has also been grappling with the death of the Covid-19. It is spread to France from Britain where it has been thought to have arrived as a hitchhiker in wood untreated by maggots.
But French officials believe the insects, or Pectus subbutus depending on where in the Mediterranean it is found, were most likely brought in by Europeans rather than arriving on a flight.
Several French provinces including Marseille have reported that the pest was being established, even though the insect is considered dangerous.
From 1998 to 2010 there were no reports of the insect, but two year ago nine infestations were found, one in the south of France and six in the north.