Hell Larva Spotted Near Sweden: "It Won't Be Long" Before It Reaches Skåne

A dangerous invasive insect known as the "hell larva" is spreading northward and has now been found on the Danish island of Amager—just across the strait from the Swedish city of Malmö. Experts warn that it is only a matter of time before the pest arrives in the Skåne region. "It has already migrated to Amager, so it is now urgent to develop a clear action plan," says Mats Wirén, a municipal ecologist in Malmö. The hell larva, a term used for the larvae of certain toxic or aggressive beetle species, can damage local ecosystems and pose risks to agriculture. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely as the insect continues its northward march.