Science Communication and Citizen Science: Vademecum - a Handbook for the IPM-Popillia Horizon 2020 Project

Under the title "Integrated Pest Management of the invasive Japanese Beetle, Popillia japonica", a Horizon 2020 project took place from 2020 to 2024, looking at the impact of invasive beetle species on the plant health. Although the project has successfully been concluded, the results are still actively disseminated, and now also available in a visually appealing and comprehensive guide co-authored and designed by the SPOTTERON team. In this short blog, we will introduce the Vademecum regarding Popillia japonica, including the invasive species monitoring IPM App Co-Use opportunity for national and international stakeholders.

Science to See and Touch

The recently published Vademecum as part of the IPM-Popillia Horizon 2020 project is a practical guide for diverse stakeholder groups who are involved in the management of Popillia japonica. Plant protection organizations, farmers, and other interested parties will find comprehensive guidelines for mitigating the effects - from controlling the beetle populations to monitoring strategies, including the application of the Citizen Science IPM App.

In the spirit of the Citizen Science approach, which aims to actively engage people, our SPOTTERON graphic design team has developed the layout, illustrations and infographics of the Vademecum in a visually appealing manner. Visualisations of the beetle's appearance across the lifecycle motivate people to observe and identify the species themselves.

Some of the illustrations of Popillia japonica are also available on our Shirts & More section. Additionally to the Vademecum, SPOTTERON supported the IPM Popillia project previously for dissemination materials in various languages. Check them out in another blog and / or download the IPM Popillia Dissemination Package here!

Structure of the Vademecum and Insights in Science Communication

The guiding document is divided into the following sections:

• Brief introduction to Popillia japonica including the species distribution.
• Monitoring methods, including innovative beetle trap systems and its placement, and field monitoring via the IPM App with integrated AI species identification.
  • Co-Use opportunities of the IPM App for national and international stakeholders.
• Best practice for control, including chemical, agronomical and physical practices.

The Vademecum is publicly available on Zenodo platform here.
How to citate: Hummer P., Sgherri I., Boschi S., & Ortner D. (2025). Vademecum - Popillia japonica, a new threat to European Agriculture. L. Marianelli, F. Paoli, G. Torrini, I. Iovinella, G. Grabenweger, F. Knecht, G. Bosio (Eds). pp19. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17536538

A Look Into the Future of Controlling Invasive Species 

The publication shares a diverse number of techniques and strategies which have been tested effectively, including also those that are promising but still under development and/or not yet in use across Europe. The combination of results and methods is intended to provide a source of possible solutions to the challenge of controlling invasive species worldwide.

What Happens After the Horizon Project is Finalized?

Despite the successful closure of the IPM-Popillia Horizon 2020 project, the Citizen Science IPM App is still available and everyone is invited to participate. The IPM App is part of the SPOTTERON Co-Use Program, and we welcome ideas from anyone interested in applying the App for a larger or more specialised context. 

Every new national partner gets full access via exclusive national admin accounts, enabling full independent use. More about the Co-use opportunity of the IPM App available in the presentation can be found on the IPM Website, including a PDF Presentation:

Interested to learn more about the IPM App capabilities and App Co-Use possibilities? Reach out and we schedule a meeting.