These strange animals now live in Switzerland

Until twenty years ago, it was still native to the Mediterranean region. But in the meantime urgent spider nosferatu Farther and further north. Even in Switzerland, the poisonous eight-legged creature is vulnerable to abuse – and it bites here, too.

It is not an isolated case, like Oliver Yves Martin from ETH Zurich explained. Because: before the Nosferatu spider, other exotic animals were already attracted to Switzerland. Perhaps the most well-known case: the marble-smelling bug.

It was first discovered in Switzerland in 2004. Since then, the pest has spread in East Asia Not just the walls of the housebut also fruit trees, berries, vegetables, corn, soybeans, and vines.

The spotted fly also flew from East Asia. Its ability to invade diverse crops and retreat into wooded areas makes it a difficult perennial pest to control.

The Japanese beetle is not yet in Switzerland, but it is practically “out of the gates”. This pest was introduced to northern Italy a few years ago and is constantly spreading there. On request, Martin cannot answer what other small animals will come to Switzerland next.

But why are more and more exotic animals being drawn to Switzerland? This is mainly due to evolution, explains Urs Tester, Head of Biology and Species at Pro Natura. In fact on climate change.

“Because of rising temperatures, more species of animals and plants from the Mediterranean are also appearing north of the Alps,” Tester says. That won’t change in the future either.