Biological invasions by non-native insects represent a growing threat to biodiversity, agriculture, forestry, and public health across North America. These species can alter ecosystem function, disrupt native communities, and impose substantial economic costs. Despite increasing awareness, anticipating where future invasions may occur remains a critical challenge for proactive surveillance and management efforts. In this study, we use ecological niche modeling (ENM) to identify spatial hotspots of insect invasiveness across the United States. We compiled occurrence records for a curated list of known invasive insect species and paired these with high-resolution climate variables to estimate potential distributions using correlative modeling techniques. We generated individual species models and combined results to create ensemble predictions to highlight cumulative areas of invasion risk under current environmental conditions. Our results highlight consistent geographic hotspots, such as the southeastern United States, parts of California, and the Great Lakes region, where multiple species are projected to find suitable conditions. These regions emerge as priority areas for enhanced biosecurity, early detection, and management. We also identify key environmental drivers associated with invasion potential offering insights into the mechanisms enabling insect establishment and spread. This approach provides a scalable, data-driven framework to anticipate areas at risk of future insect invasions and guide strategic monitoring and management actions.
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