[Aim] Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (pine wood nematode) is an important invasive species, causing huge economic losses to China. According to a recent survey of B. xylophilus in the country, pine wilt disease occurred in high altitude where mean annual temperature is around 8℃. This suggests that its range probably moved to north and high altitude area. In this paper, we discuss the potential distribution of B. xylophilus in the situation of adaptation cold conditions.[Method] The experiment included two treatments where nematodes were exposed to low temperatures (3, 1, 0, -1, -3, -5, -6, -7, -9, -12℃) for 24 h (short) or 30 d (long) periods. The lethal temperature (LT₅₀, LT₇₅, LT₉₉) was then measured. The potential distribution of B. xylophilus was built using CLIMEX and ArcGIS and based on LT₅₀, LT₇₅, LT₉₉ results. CLIMEX was used to analyze the adaptive capacity of B. xylophilus and the results were integrated into ArcGIS to calculate the inverse weighted distance, based on EI (ecological index) value. The trend of the Northern Line of pine wood nematode distribution at moderate risk with or without low temperature stress was analyzed.[Result] Considering the long-term (30 d) cold stress conditions, the distribution is significantly farther north than under short-term (24 h) cold stress and non-stress (based on EI value) conditions.[Conclusion] The potential distribution of the pine wood nematode can move northward over time under low temperature stress, suggesting pine wood nematode capacity to adapt to cold conditions.