Location: Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit
Project Number: 8010-22000-033-053-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement
Start Date: Jun 15, 2021
End Date: Nov 15, 2022
Objective:
The goal of this project is to identify effective exotic natural enemies of the invasive spotted lanternfly and assess their suitability as candidate biocontrol agents in the U.S. Spotted lanternfly has established in nine NE states and likely to continue expanding its range in the U.S. Lanternfly populations in its native Chinese range are considerably lower than in the invaded range, possibly due to its natural enemies.
Approach:
• Conduct foreign exploration for natural enemies in Asia (in coordination with APHIS and Chinese partners).
• Participate in planning and coordination of Chinese cooperator surveys to discover new natural enemies (parasitoids) of SLF, identify the natural host range of the SLF parasitoids, and identify species that could be imported to U.S. for evaluation as candidate agents in the U.S.
• Participate in planning and coordination of surveys in South Korea, where SLF has been invasive since 2006, to determine the impact of its natural enemies there.
• Conduct behavioral assays of natural enemy host finding, recognition and acceptance.
• Provide laboratory space and technical support to UD cooperators for natural enemy survey and studies.
