Where are they currently found and how have they spread?
Brown marmorated stink bugs are native to China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan; however, they have spread to the United States of America (USA) (Leskey et al. 2012), Canada (Fogain & Graff 2011) and Europe, including France (Callot & Brua 2013), Germany (Heckmann 2012), Liechtenstein (Arnold 2009 cited in Lee et al. 2013) and Switzerland (Wermelinger et al. 2008). Since the initial detection of Brown marmorated stink bug in the USA in the mid-1990s (Allentown, Philadelphia, USA), the Brown marmorated stink bug population has rapidly spread throughout 40 states and the District of Columbia (Lee et al. 2013; Leskey et al. 2012). Brown marmorated stink bugs were first discovered in Switzerland in 2007 (Wermelinger et al. 2008). The source of these introductions is unknown; however, Brown marmorated stink bugs are likely to have been introduced by the importation, movement or relocation of host plants, fruit, vehicles, goods or man-made materials (Wermelinger et al. 2008; Zhu et al. 2012).
Latitudes of between 30–50 degrees have been identified as having suitable climatic conditions for the invasion of the Brown marmorated stink bug (Zhu et al. 2012). Areas in this zone that show high climate suitability include northern Europe, northeastern North America (Pacific coast and central states of the USA), the north Island of New Zealand, areas of Africa (Angola, Congo and Zambia), parts of South America (Brazil and Uruguay) and southern Australia (Figure 6; Zhu et al. 2012).
Latitudes of between 30–50 degrees have been identified as having suitable climatic conditions for the invasion of the Brown marmorated stink bug (Zhu et al. 2012). Areas in this zone that show high climate suitability include northern Europe, northeastern North America (Pacific coast and central states of the USA), the north Island of New Zealand, areas of Africa (Angola, Congo and Zambia), parts of South America (Brazil and Uruguay) and southern Australia (Figure 6; Zhu et al. 2012).
Figure 6: A Maxent model of predicted climate suitability using native (black dots) and invasive (white squares) records of occurrence. The dark colour represents high suitability and the light colour represents low suitability (Zhu et al. 2012).