It is unclear from where it originated but it is now present in many warm-water coastal regions throughout the world, and has become invasive on the west coast of North America and in Australia and New Zealand.

Curiously, it had been recorded in Australia in 1947 and in New Zealand in 1959 and in both cases initially thrived but later declined and died out.

[2] W. subtorquata can grow on rocks, shells, buoys, pilings, docks, kelp and the hulls of vessels.

W. subtorquata is a hermaphrodite; sperm are liberated into the water and drawn into other zooids where they fertilises the eggs.

When liberated into the sea they soon settle, undergo a profound metamorphosis and start new colonies.