Populus ×canadensis Moench

Posted on2026-09-202026-09-20AuthorDr. Christian Ries

	Canadian poplar	Status LU: established. 1st record: LU 1823, ITW 1987.
	Kanadesch Pëppel	Status Eur.: established.
	Peuplier noir hybride	RA: ISEIA: C3. Harmonia+: 0,24.
	Bastard-Schwarz-Pappel	Wikipedia: \| Wikispecies:
	Canadapopulier	Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Mussklprozz, CC BY-SA 3.0 Wikimedia Commons

Populus ×canadensis Moench is a tree species that originates from hybridisation events between P. nigra, the European poplar and two American poplars, P. deltoides and P. angulata. It occurs in many varieties and can appear spontaneously wherever the parent species is present, but is also commonly bred and planted all over the world. The Canadian poplar thrives on periodically inundated flood plains, nonetheless it can also be found in ruderal areas. The tree threatens to extinguish its parent species and can contribute to the desiccation of its wetland habitats.

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Populus ×canadensis Moench in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2026-10-03.

Populus ×canadensis Moench was first mentioned in Luxembourg under its synonym Populus monilifera Willd. (Tinant 1836: 490). Koltz (1873: 153) and Krombach (1875: 415) state that Populus canadensis is [sic] “common and grown in avenues where only male feet are most often found”.

But Koltz (1875: 138) specifies its 1st record in today Luxembourg in 1823: “Originally from North America as far away as Illinois and Virginia, Populus canadensis Moench was introduced in 1812 in Preisch Park, and in 1842 as P. lævigata and P. molinifera in Walferdange Park. Cultivated as avenue tree. The one which was planted in the Schrassig Park in 1823, has now a trunk girth of 3,66m at shoulder height”.

The oldest herbarium specimen at the MNHNL was collected on 21 April 1935 by Jos. Witry in Bergem (Specimen № 50719, MNHNL 2000-). The next scientific record that we know of was made by Léopold Reichling (1921-2009) on 2nd September 1983 in Ehnen (Municipality of Wormeldange).

The first record in the wild seems to have been documented on 1987-09-03 by Max Lauff and Mariette Scheuer along the Millebaach in Beckerich (MNHNL 2000-).

Currently, 86 records of the Canadian poplar are accessible through the MNHNL-mdata portal (MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF 2019).

The Canadian poplar is rather common in Luxembourg.

Other poplar hybrids and varieties

Many poplar hybrids from artificial crosses between P. nigra and North American P. deltoides, complicated by return crosses, selections and various improvements, are grouped under the name of Populus ×canadensis; some cultivars are old (about two centuries), others of more or less recent origin. Often, some only include male individuals, while others are female gen. The main varieties and forms traditionally cultivated are var. canadensis, var. gelrica (Houtzagers) Geerinck and var. marilandica (Bosc ex Poiret) Rehd. Some subspontaneous poplars (riversides…), which may result from spontaneous return crosses between Populus ×canadensis and P. nigra, are of delicate determination (Lambinon & Verloove 2012: 230-231).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

C3 (2+2+2+1) (Ries et al. 2013: 18).

Harmonia+ protocol

Overall risk score 0,24 = (Overall Invasion score 0,66 x Overall Impact score 0,37) (Ries et al. 2020).

0,66

Invasion
0,37

Impact
0,24

Risk

Worldwide distribution

GBIF: https://www.gbif.org/species/8190077

Bibliography

GBIF 2020. Populus canadensis Moench in GBIF Secretariat (2019). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei [accessed 2020-03-02]
Koltz, J.-P.-J., 1873. Prodrome de la flore du grand-duché de Luxembourg. Première partie. Plantes phanérogames. Imprimerie V. Buck, Luxembourg. 279 S.
Koltz, J.-P.-J., 1875. Dendrologie luxembourgeoise. Catalogue des arbres, arbrisseaux et arbustes spontanés, subspontanés ou introduits dans la culture du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg. Imprimerie V. Buck, Luxembourg. 217 p.
Krombach, J.-H.-G., 1875. Flore du grand-duché de Luxembourg. Plantes phanérogames. 564 p. Luxembourg, Imprimerie Joris.
Lambinon J. & F. Verloove, 2012. Nouvelle flore de la Belgique, du grand-duché de Luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des régions voisines. Sixième édition. Avec la collaboration de L. Delvosalle, B. Toussaint, D. Geerinck, I. Hoste, F. Van Rossum, B. Cornier, R. Schumacker, A. Vanderpoorten et H. Vannerom. Jardin botanique national de Belgique, Meise. CXXXIX + 1195 pp. ISBN : 9789072619884.
MNHNL, 2000-. Populus ×canadensis Moench in Recorder-Lux, database on the natural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-10-14]
MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2019. Populus ×canadensis Moench in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-10-14]
Ries, C. & Y. Krippel, 2021. First records of 56 invasive alien vascular plants in Luxembourg. Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois 123: 115-127. [PDF 241 KB]
Ries, C., Y. Krippel & M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2020. Risk assessment after the Harmonia+ protocol of invasive alien vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 122: 197-205. [PDF 132 KB]
Ries, C., Y. Krippel, M. Pfeiffenschneider & S. Schneider, 2013. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of non-native vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 114: 15-21. [PDF 652 KB]
Tinant, F. A., 1836. Flore luxembourgeoise, ou, Description des plantes phanérogames, recueillies et observées dans le grand-duché de Luxembourg, classées d’après le système sexuel de Linnée. 512 p. Luxembourg, J. P. Kuborn.

Page content last updated on 2026-09-20. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-20.

Chelicorophium robustum

Posted on2026-09-182026-09-18AuthorManou Pfeiffenschneider

		Status LU: present
		Status Eur.: established.
		RA: ISEIA: n/a. Harmonia+: n/a.
	Andromeda-Netzwanze	Wikipedia: \| Wikispecies:/
		Back to the list of invertebrates

Brief description

Chelicorophium robustum

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of somethingelse in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2026-10-03.

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

no assessed yet

Harmonia+ protocol

no assessed yet

Worldwide distribution

GBIF:

Bibliography

Page content last updated on 2026-09-18.

Chaetogammarus ischnus (Stebbing, 1899)

Posted on2026-08-182026-09-24AuthorManou Pfeiffenschneider

		Status LU: present
		Status Eur.: established.
		RA: ISEIA: n/a. Harmonia+: n/a.
	Granataugen-Flohkrebs	Wikipedia: / \| Wikispecies:/
		Back to the list of invertebrates

Brief description

Chaetogammarus ischnus (Stebbing, 1899) is a fresh and brackish water gammarid amphipod native to the Black and Caspian Sea basins and the surrounding inflowing rivers. It is a small, slender species with a body length of up to 12 mm. It is introduced in parts of Europe and North America. The species tolerates a wide temperature range, from near-freezing to above 30°C. It ranges widely into freshwater, but is sensitive to water of low ionic content (conductivity). In its introduced range, E. ischnus is abundant on rocky and cobble shores, but especially favors clumps of Zebra and Quagga Mussel shells. It is not strongly associated with vegetation. In living specimens, the eyes are bright red, the antennae are orange, and the body is translucent and reddish. The antennae are long and hairy. Its preferred habitats are the lower reaches of larger rivers and streams, canals, and lakes. The species competes with native amphipods for habitat and food. There are no known significant negative impacts on other species groups. Chaetogammarus ischnus occurs sporadically in Germany but is often found in high densities on rock embankments in waterways (e.g., the Rhine and Havel), where it is frequently the dominant species alongside Dikerogammarus villosus. It is a predatory omnivore (feeding on other small animals, insect larvae, algae, aquatic plants and fish eggs). The Dreissena invasion in Europe and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River may have facilitated the spread of E. ischnus by providing shelter from predation (Fofonoff et al. 2018, Müller et al 2018, Kanton Aargau 2026).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of somethingelse in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2026-10-03.

Among invasive amphipods, the Pontocaspian species Chaetogammarus ischnus showed an increase in its population between 2018 and 2023, with high prevalence in the Moselle (from Stadtbredimus to Wasserbillig) and the Saar (monitoring by the LfU Rhineland-Palatinate State Office for the Environment).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

no assessed yet

Harmonia+ protocol

no assessed yet

Worldwide distribution

GBIF: https://www.gbif.org/taxon/TC9N#map

Bibliography

Fofonoff PW, Ruiz GM, Steves B, Simkanin C, & Carlton JT (2018): National Exotic Marine and Estuarine Species Information System. https://invasions.si.edu/nemesis. Access Date: September 24, 2026
Kanton Aargau, 2026. Neobiota in Gewässern, https://www.ag.ch/de/themen/umwelt-natur/neobiota/neobiota-in-gewaessern?jumpto=Njc1NzcwMC9iZDMxMzc3YS0wMzdjLTQ0NTYtOWEyYS0xODA0MmM0OGNjZjM [Accessed 2026-08-18]
Müller, R., C. Wolter & T. Peschel, 2018. Neobiota in Berliner Gewässern im Jahr 2018, Wirbellose Tiere, Fische und Wasserpflanzen, Planungsbüro Hydrobiologie Berlin, Im Auftrag der Senatsverwaltung für Umwelt, Verkehr und Klimaschutz, Abteilung Integrativer Umweltschutz, Referat Wasserwirtschaf, pp. 143.

Page content last updated on 2026-09-24.

Branchiura sowerbyi Beddard, 1892

Posted on2026-08-182026-08-18AuthorManou Pfeiffenschneider

		Status LU: present
		Status Eur.: established.
		RA: ISEIA: n/a. Harmonia+: n/a.
		Wikipedia: / \| Wikispecies:/
		Back to the list of invertebrates

Brief description

Branchiura sowerbyi Beddard, 1892 is a cosmopolite freshwater oligochaete. It is widespread in Europe and North America and also known in Asia, South America, Australia and South Africa. Its earliest records come from South East Asia and botanical gardens in Europe. Distribution patterns led to the conclusion that the species originated from the Sino-Indian region and was spread elsewhere by human activity. Fauna Europaea reports the species from 22 countries throughout Europe where it usually occurs in shallow, very warm stagnant or slowly flowing waters (Grabowski, M. & A. Jabłońska, 2009).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of somethingelse in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2026-10-03.

In 1959, Jules A. Hoffmann caught Branchiures in the Moselle River near Remich. Subsequent surveys revealed a massive population in the border section of the Moselle. Furthermore, the species was moving upstream along the lower Sûre: by 1965, it had passed Moersdorf (J. Hoffmann 1970). Mauch (1962, 1963) confirmed the presence of this non-native species in the Moselle River between Schengen and Wasserbillig (Dhur & Massard 1995). The species is said to have been present in France’s Moselle River since 1935. A few individuals were also observed in 2023 at a monitoring station on the Moselle in Palzem, across from Stadtbredimus, but not in the Sauer.

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

no assessed yet

Harmonia+ protocol

no assessed yet

Worldwide distribution

GBIF: https://www.gbif.org/taxon/N6WK

Bibliography

Dhur, G. & J.-A. Massard, 1995. Etude historique et faunistique des invertébrés immigrés ou introduits dans la Moselle luxembourgeoise et ses affluents, Bulletin de la société des naturalistes luxembourgeoies, 96 (1995), p. 127 – 156.
Grabowski, M. & A. Jabłońska, 2009. First records of Branchiura sowerbyi Beddard, 1892 (Oligochaeta: Tubificidae) in Greece, Aquatic Invasions (2009) Volume 4, Issue 2: 365-367.

Page content last updated on 2026-08-18.

Dikerogammarus haemobaphes (Eichwald, 1841)

Posted on2026-08-182026-08-18AuthorManou Pfeiffenschneider

Demon shrimp		Status LU: present
		Status Eur.: established.
		RA: ISEIA: n/a. Harmonia+: n/a.
Kleiner Höckerflohkrebs		Wikipedia: \| Wikispecies: /
Kleine rimpelvlokreeft		Back to the list of invertebrates

Brief description

Dikerogammarus haemobaphes (Eichwald, 1841) is a species of freshwater gammarid crustacean. These gammarids are commonly known as demon shrimp, likely because they are an extremely successful invasive species. Native to the Ponto Caspian basin, Dikerogammarus haemobaphes expanded their range in the 1950s. This expansion began in Lake Balaton, Hungary and then spread into certain rivers and lakes in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. These crustaceans likely broadened their range due to the interconnection of waterways in Europe and the use of transportation vectors such as boats and ships (Wikipedia contributors, 2023).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of somethingelse in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2026-10-03.

The species was recorded in 2008/2009 in the French part of the Moselle (Labat et al. 2011), and was detected in the Moselle in Luxembourg in both 2018 and 2024 during monitoring by the LfU Rhineland-Palatinate State Office for the Environment.

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

no assessed yet

Harmonia+ protocol

no assessed yet

Worldwide distribution

GBIF: https://www.gbif.org/taxon/364SM#map

Bibliography

Labat, F., C. Piscart, B. Fontan, 2011. First records, pathways and distributions of four new Ponto-Caspian amphipods in France, Limnologica Volume 41, Issue 4, December 2011, Pages 290-295
Wikipedia contributors, 2023. Dikerogammarus haemobaphes, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 28 March 2023, 15:10 UTC, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dikerogammarus haemobaphes> [Accessed 2025-10-22]

Page content last updated on 2026-08-18.

Nezara viridula L.

Posted on2026-01-052026-09-22AuthorManou Pfeiffenschneider

	Southern green shield bug	Status LU: established
		Status Eur.: established.
	Punaise verte puante	RA: ISEIA: n/a. Harmonia+: n/a.
	Grüne Reiswanze	Wikipedia: \| Wikispecies:
	Zuidelijke groene schildwants	Back to the list of invertebrates

Brief description

Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 3.0 Wikimedia Commons

Nezara viridula L., commonly known as southern green shield bug or green vegetable bug, is a plant-feeding stink bug. Believed to have originated in Ethiopia, it can now be found across the world due to its strong flight and human transport along trade routes. Because of its preference for certain species of legumes, such as beans and soybeans, it is an economically important pest on such crops.

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Nezara viridula L. in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2026-10-03.

The first documented sighting of this species in Luxembourg was in Hesperange in 2019. Based on the data found in the Recorder-Lux database, the species has established itself primarily in the centre of the country and in the Moselle valley. It appears to be less common in the Ösling region so far.

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

no assessed yet

Harmonia+ protocol

no assessed yet

Worldwide distribution

GBIF (2026): https://www.gbif.org/species/2078852

Bibliography

Wikipedia contributors, 2025. Nezara viridula, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 7 October 2025, 17:22 UTC, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nezara_viridula> [Accessed 2026-01-05]

Page content last updated on 2026-09-22.

Tradescantia fluminensis Vell.

Posted on2024-10-092026-09-20AuthorManou Pfeiffenschneider

	Small-leaf spiderwort	Status LU: n/a. 1st record: n/a
		Status Eur.: partly naturalised
	Éphémère de Rio	RA: ISEIA: n/a Harmonia+: n/a
	Rio-Dreimasterblume	Wikipedia: \| Wikispecies: \| CABI
		Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Tradescantia fluminensis Vell. is a species of spiderwort native to South America. It is a perennial groundcover that spreads along the ground with soft, hairless stems and leaves. Tradescantia fluminensis is grown as a garden plant or houseplant in many places. The plant requires a moist soil to develop well and tolerates heavy shade. It is retarded by cold climates, especially where there is frost or snow. The plant is considered poisonous, but it is controversial as to how strong its poisonous properties are. Tradescantia fluminensis is considered an invasive species, noxious weed in many places. Its invasive qualities result from a combination of attributes. Forming a dense mat underneath forest tree cover, facilitated by a remarkable shade tolerance, it smothers ground-level plants and prevents the natural regeneration of taller species. If left unchecked, it can lead to the destruction of native forests. In areas where the plant is a pest. mechanical control is an arduous task since every single scrap of the weed has to be removed or it will regrow. In less prolific areas, manual removal is less difficult as the plant roots come up easily, and an initial clearance can be accomplished by raking the area. To achieve complete control, repeated efforts every few months, coupled with regular monitoring for invasions from surrounding areas, are essential (Wikipedia contributors 2024).

In Europe, the plant is widespread in Italy and Portugal and has been recorded in Spain, Croatia, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Romania, Malta, France, Belgium and the UK. In Germany and Switzerland, there are only a few documented cases where the plant has spread into the wild and invaded natural vegetation. (CABI 2019, OpenAI 2024).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

In Luxembourg, the plant has not been observed in the wild yet.

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

Not assessed yet.

Harmonia+ protocol

Not assessed yet.

Worldwide distribution

Source: GBIF 2024 (https://www.gbif.org/species/2765156)

Bibliography

CABI, 2019. Tradescantia fluminensis. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2024-10-09]
OpenAI, 2024. “Response from ChatGPT.” October 9, 2024. https://chat.openai.com.
Verloove F. (2024) Tradescantia fluminensis. On: Manual of the Alien Plants of Belgium. Botanic Garden Meise, Belgium. At: alienplantsbelgium.be [accessed 09/10/2024]
Wikipedia contributors, 2024. ‘Tradescantia fluminensis’, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 30 September 2024, 10:26 UTC, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tradescantia_fluminensis> [accessed 2024-10-09]

Page content last updated on 2026-09-20.

Cyperus esculentus L.

Posted on2024-09-152026-09-18AuthorManou Pfeiffenschneider

	Tiger nut	Status LU: unknown. 1st record: 2024, ITW 2024.
		Status Eur.: unknown
	Souchet comestible	RA: ISEIA: n/a Harmonia+: n/a
	Erdmandel	Wikipedia: \| Wikispecies: \| CABI
	Knolcyperus	Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Dr. Stanley Kays, Attribution, via Wikimedia Commons

Cyperus esculentus L. (also called chufa or tiger nut) is a species of plant in the sedge family widespread across much of the world. It is found in most of the Eastern Hemisphere, including Southern Europe, Africa and Madagascar, as well as the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent. The brown, round, pea-sized, highly oily tubers are edible and are traded in southern Europe and West Africa. They are known in France as amandes de terre and in Spain as chufa. The flavour of the tubers is reminiscent of hazelnuts or almonds. Cyperus esculentus is an invasive species outside its native range, and is readily transported accidentally to become invasive (Wikipedia contributors 2024).

Tigernut grass reproduces and spreads mainly by root nodules and can lead to considerable yield losses in arable and vegetable farming. The invasive weed has a very high propagation potential (Bohren & Wirth 2015). The species behaves as a weed in almost all temperate, tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Once established, it is extremely difficult to eradicate because plants have a stratified and layered root system, with tubers and roots being interconnected. The plant can quickly regenerate if a single tuber is left in place. In its competition for light, water and nutrients it can reduce crop yields and outcompetes native plant species when it grows as an environmental weed. The invasiveness of this species is also high due to its great dispersal capacity. Tubers and seeds can be easily dispersed through agricultural activities, soil movement, by water and wind, and very often as contaminants in crop seeds (CABI 2014).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Cyperus esculentus L. in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2026-10-03.

The first documented observation of Cyperus esculentus L. in Luxembourg was made in 2024. An occurence of the species was reported by a horticultural company in Troisvierges and confirmed by Jean-Paul Wolff (ATEMO) on 27 August 2024.

C. esculentus (JP Wolff – ATEMO, 27.08.2024)

C. esculentus (JP Wolff – ATEMO, 27.08.2024)

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

Not assessed yet.

Harmonia+ protocol

Not assessed yet.

Worldwide distribution

Currently, C. esculentus occurs on all continents and from the equator to as far north as Alaska (CABI 2014). In Germany, the tiger nut has naturalised sporadically in the Upper Rhine region and in the foothills of the Alps. In Switzerland, the plant has been added to the blacklist of invasive neophytes due to its potential to spread and the damage it causes to biodiversity, health and the economy. In the Netherlands, problematic mass occurrences of tiger nuts have developed as an arable weed since 1970. They have been specifically controlled since 1984. The species also occurs in Belgium and Austria (Wikipedia contributors, 2024).

Bibliography

Bohren, C. & J. Wirth, 2015. Die Verbreitung von Erdmandelgras (Cyperus esculentus L.) betrifft alle. Agrarforschung Schweiz 6 (9): 384–391, 2015. URL: https://www.agrarforschungschweiz.ch/archiv/?s=Erdmandel [accessed 2024-09-10]
CABI, 2014. Cyperus esculentus. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2024-09-10]
Wikipedia contributors, 2024. ‘Cyperus esculentus’, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 6 September 2024, 8:58 UTC, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyperus_esculentus> [accessed 2024-09-10]

Page content last updated on 2026-09-18. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2023-03-27.

Popillia japonica Newman, 1841

Posted on2024-08-092026-09-22AuthorManou Pfeiffenschneider

	Japanese beetle	Status LU: not observed yet.
		Status Eur.: established.
	Scarabée japonais	RA: ISEIA: n/a. Harmonia+: n/a.
	Japan-Käfer	Wikipedia: \| Wikispecies:
	Japanse kever	Back to the list of invertebrates

Brief description

Bruce Marlin, CC BY 3.0 Wikimedia Commons

Popillia japonica Newman, 1841 is a species of scarab beetle. Due to the presence of natural predators, the Japanese beetle is not considered a pest in its native Japan, but in North America and Europe, it is a noted pest to roughly 300 species of plants. Some of these plants include rose bushes, grapes, potatoes, tomatoes, bean, birch trees, maple trees, and others. The adult beetles damage plants by skeletonizing the foliage as well as, at times, feeding on a plant’s fruit. The subterranean larvae feed on the roots of grasses (Wikipedia contributors 2024).

Japanese beetles have been found on the islands of the Azores since the 1970s. In 2014, the first population in mainland Europe was discovered near Milan, Italy. In 2017, the pest was detected in nearby Ticino, Switzerland. In 2023, the first population north of the Alps was detected in Kloten near Zürich, Switzerland (Wikipedia contributors 2024). End of July 2024, the species was first observed in southern Germany around Freiburg im Breisgau and Ludwigsburg (LTZ Augustenberg).

A project for an integrated pest management of the species in Europe has been launched with the aim to address the challenge of this new risk to plant health in Europe. The main goals of IPM Popillia are identifying the Japanese beetles’ pathways of entry and spread, understanding the drivers of Japanese beetles’ population development, providing a toolbox for control of the species and developing sustainable Japanese Beetle management in Europe.

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Popillia japonica Newman, 1841 in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2026-10-03.

Popillia japonica Newman, 1841 has not yet been detected in Luxembourg.

A booklet about the Japanese beetle was published in 2023 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Viticulture and Rural Development.

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

no assessed yet

Harmonia+ protocol

no assessed yet

Worldwide distribution

GBIF: https://www.gbif.org/species/4425774

Bibliography

Ministère de l’Agriculture, de la Viticulture et du Développement rural, Administration des services techniques de l’agriculture – ASTA, 2023. Japankäfer – Popillia japonica, booklet, 12 pp.
LTZ Augustenberg, 2024. Pressemitteilung: Einzelne Japankäfer in Freiburg und im Landkreis Ludwigsburg gefunden. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2024-08-09]
Wikipedia contributors, 2024. Japanese beetle, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 30 July 2024, 14:50 UTC, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_beetle> [Accessed 2024-08-09]

Page content last updated on 2026-09-22.

Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855)

Posted on2023-11-202026-09-22AuthorManou Pfeiffenschneider

Brown marmorated stink bug		Status LU: established. 1st record: 2022, ITW 2022.
Brong marbréiert Bamwanz		Status Eur.: established. 1st record: 1998
Punaise diabolique		RA: ISEIA: n/a Harmonia+: n/a
Marmorierte Baumwanze		Wikipedia: \| Wikispecies: \| CABI
Bruin gemarmerde schildwants		Back to the list of neozoa

Brief description

B. Schoenmakers, CC BY 3.0 Wikimedia Commons

B. Schoenmakers, CC BY 3.0 Wikimedia Commons

The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) is native to China, Japan, Korea and other Asian regions. In 1998 it was collected in Pennsylvania/USA, where it is believed to have been accidentally introduced. The nymphs and adults of the brown marmorated stink bug feed on over 100 species of plants, including many agricultural crops, and by 2010 had become a season-long pest in orchards in the Eastern United States. The brown marmorated stink bug was probably first introduced to Europe during the repair work of the Chinese Garden in Zurich, Switzerland in the winter of 1998. The stink bug has been traced back to have travelled with roof tiles that were imported from Beijing, China. The first sighting in southern Germany was made in Konstanz in 2011. In Italy the first specimens were found in Modena in 2012 and afterwards in South Tyrol in 2016. The pest rapidly spread across Europe, and it is currently present in nearly every European country as well as in many parts of North and South America. The rapid spread of the species is linked to its ability to hitchhike, particularly in autumn when it seeks shelter in any man-made structure to overwinter, and easily travels with us and our means of transportation. H. halys has also a strong capacity to disperse at landscape levels throughout most periods of its lifetime. The species has over 100 reported host plants. It is widely considered to be an arboreal species and can frequently be found among woodlots. In orchards where H. halys is established in the USA, it is a season-long pest of tree fruit. In particular, peaches, nectarines, apples and Asian pears are heavily attacked. The brown marmorated stink bug is likely to invade homes in the fall. The bug survives the winter as an adult by entering houses and structures when autumn evenings become colder, often in the thousands. In one home, more than 26,000 stinkbugs were found overwintering. Once inside the house, they go into a state of hibernation (CABI 2013, Wikipedia contributors 2023).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855) in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2026-10-03.

There are only a few observations of the species documented for Luxembourg so far, the first one from September 2022 in Frisingen.

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

Not assessed yet.

Harmonia+ protocol

Not assessed yet.

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

CABI, 2013. ‘Halyomorpha halys’ (2013) CABI Compendium.doi.org: 10.1079/cabicompendium.27377. [accessed 2023-11-14]
MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2023. Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855) in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2023-11-14]
Wikipedia contributors, 2023. ‘Brown marmorated stink bug’, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 6 November 2023, 19:56 UTC, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_marmorated_stink_bug> [accessed 2023-11-14]

Page content last updated on 2026-09-22. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2023-10-26.