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<p>The brown marmorated stink bug, <em>Halyomorpha halys</em>, is an insect from eastern
Asia (China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan). It has no established populations in the UK.
We are aware that it has spread into the USA and to mainland Europe. For example,
it was first reported in Germany in 2001. Subsequent reports have come from Switzerland
(2004), Greece (2011), France (2012), Italy (2012) and Hungary (2013). The insect
has been intercepted in the UK on several occasions in recent years.</p><p> </p><p>We
have carried out a risk assessment on the potential for this organism to arrive in
the UK and cause damage. Given its establishment in Europe and other parts of the
world and its potential to spread by hitchhiking, on vehicles and through human movements,
as well as via trade, our assessment has shown that it has the potential to reach
the UK. It may be able to survive in our climate, but is unlikely to reach more than
one generation per year, preventing it from reaching harmful levels. The insect is
not therefore a significant threat to UK horticultural crops but as with all pests
and diseases, the UK continues to closely monitor any threats.</p><p> </p><p>A Defra
fact sheet on the insect has been published on the Plant Health Portal.</p>
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