The spotted wind drosophila (SWD, Drosophila suzukii) is a substantial pest of berry and stone fruit production. Originally located in Southeast Asia, this invasive species is now found on most continents. With a delay of about ten years, the parasitoid wasp Leptopilina japonica has followed SWD from their common area of origin to Germany. Together with colleagues from the Museum Koenig Bonn, captured specimen from the years 2021-2023 from five German states were examined. There is much to suggest that the species was able to establish itself locally in Germany on its own. Germany is only the second country in Europe where the species has been reported, after Italy, where L. japonica was first recorded in 2019. The wasp lays its eggs in the larvae of SWD, thereby stopping its reproduction. Thus, the species could support native beneficial species in the "combat" against SWD.

Martin, J., Vogel, J., Peters, R. S., & Herz, A. (2023) First record of Leptopilina japonica Novković & Kimura, 2011 (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) in Germany, a parasitoid of the Spotted Wing Drosophila Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura, 1931) (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Journal of Applied Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.13182