Beijing wildlife park enlists visitors to fight invasive moth
Beijing Wildlife Park has launched a public campaign against the fall webworm, inviting visitors to collect caterpillars across the park.
By Friday, more than 1,000 people had taken part, collecting over 35 kilograms of the insects, or roughly 230,000 specimens.
The campaign, called the “Warrior Challenge,” will run through October 7 during the National Day holiday. Visitors are provided with chopsticks, gloves and plastic containers, while prizes are awarded based on the weight of the caterpillars collected.
The fall webworm is an invasive species that can damage hundreds of plant species. During severe outbreaks, its caterpillars can strip an entire tree within just a few days.
Beijing has also strengthened monitoring, setting up around 3,000 observation points. Control measures include collecting pupae, using insect light traps and releasing natural enemies such as parasitic wasps.
According to CCTV+, the campaign combines invasive-species control with public environmental education. Authorities are also expanding monitoring and biological control measures to reduce damage to urban vegetation.
